I have this same problem, with the Windows .MSI.  Upgraded from 5.2.9 and got the same error as the reporter describes.  Tried reinstalling Apache 2.2 and PHP 5.2.13 completely from scratch and still got the same error.

I know that the problem isn't with setting up the httpd.conf configuration, because I tried manually setting it up and got the same error.

Also, the error doesn't leave any information in the Apache error logs.  Just crashes Apache.

Downgraded to 5.2.10 and it Apache starts again.

Please check your error log.

Also disable the extensions in php.ini to figure out which could cause problems.

To pajoye@php.net
In my case, when i installed php just with mysql entension, apache will be unable to start.

@sensui at sohu dot com

Are you sure that libmysql.dll is first in your PATH? The libmysql.dll we provide with our releases, which is in the PHP installation dir.

I have a fix.

I manage to check the error logs and i found that the new apache runs a thread. This means that you have to use the threadsafe version of php for it to work.

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Just delete the current installation then go to php.net and download the threadsafe version. Make sure to make a back up of you ini file unless you want to start from scratch. Unzip the fresh copy and replace the ini file into the new directory. Everything should be good.

Hope this helps :)

I did use the threadsafe version and still got this problem!?

I had the same problem. This was in my httpd.conf file:

#BEGIN PHP INSTALLER EDITS - REMOVE ONLY ON UNINSTALL
PHPIniDir ""
LoadModule php5_module "php5apache2_2.dll"
#END PHP INSTALLER EDITS - REMOVE ONLY ON UNINSTALL

Although the path to PHP install was in my windows path (verified by typing path at the command line) it still required explicit paths:

#BEGIN PHP INSTALLER EDITS - REMOVE ONLY ON UNINSTALL
PHPIniDir "C:\Program Files (x86)\PHP\"
LoadModule php5_module "C:\Program Files (x86)\PHP\php5apache2_2.dll"
#END PHP INSTALLER EDITS - REMOVE ONLY ON UNINSTALL

You can check for issues by starting at a command line to get debug info:

httpd.exe -e debug

Confirm using threadsafe VC6 (php-5.2.17-Win32-VC6-x86.msi)
The problem is as carl_armbruster described.
Fix your httpd.conf by fully qualifying the file paths.
Thanks for the hint.

Yeaaahhh !

Got it !

thats booldy MSI installer , messing with slashes . entry in httpd.conf should look like :
#BEGIN PHP INSTALLER EDITS - REMOVE ONLY ON UNINSTALL
#PHPIniDir "C:/Program Files/PHP/"
#LoadModule php5_module "C:/Program Files/PHP/php5apache2_2.dll"
#END PHP INSTALLER EDITS - REMOVE ONLY ON UNINSTALL

Sorry , please ignore my previous commnets , I am wrong .

Just installed PHP 5.2.17 on Apache 2.2.x and got the same problem.
Added full paths at the end of the Apache config file, and it works.
Cheers for the help.

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I've been plagued with the same problem. It turned out that I had installed incompatible versions of Apache and PHP.

the problem is in the php ini dir the moment that goes that error message doesnt 
come

There are major compatibility issues with Apache and PHP. You must use the thread safe version of PHP. Only the later versions of Apache work with Windows 7. I have written up some instructions at http://johnrmcmillan.wordpress.com/2013/07/25/installing-apache-and-php-on-windows.

I need Help
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when i do everything that the other people said, it still does not work