PHP 5.3.8 does not active mysql extensions

Question

I'm installing Apache, PHP and MySql on Windows 7 (I need to run Apache under current user instead of a service so I can't use wamp or similar). The thing is PHP does not get to load mysql extensions, using phpinfo() I can see mysqlnd, not mysql, mysqli or pdo_mysql.

I remember having trouble with this in previous installations and having to download these DLL's from somewhere, so maybe it's happening again, are the mysql dll's coming with PHP version incorrect? What else can I do to properly install mysql extensions?

Answer 1

You can use XAMPP using your current user credentials if not using it as a service (see here).
Otherwise check if the mysql extension is activated correctly in your php.ini and the .dll/.so is present in the extension folder.

Answer 2

Installing the MySQL extensions with the official PHP installer is pretty straightforward:

• Run the wizard and click "Next" to get the install options
• Click "Change"
• Leave previous options and click "Next" until you get to "Choose Items to Install"
• Under "Extensions", select the desired items (you don't need them all, just the ones you plan to use):
  • MySQL
  • MySQLi
  • PDO/MySQL
• Click "Next" and "Change" to complete the installation.
• Restart Apache.

If you happen to get further errors, it's possible that you need the MySQL client libraries (I admit I haven't installed PHP in a bare computer for a long while so I don't know if libmysql.dll is required by PHP). That can be obtained from any MySQL tool that bundles the appropriate DLL, such as HeidiSQL or MySQL Server itself.

An important thing to take into account when working with Windows 7 is that you need administration privileges to edit any file under "Program Files". Grant your editor those privileges when you run it or move custom data (such as your web sites) somewhere else.