Topic: Apache Not Displaying in Taskbar Icons & All Programs

[Diana]

I decided to start a new thread to keep everything more organized. This will also help people with future issues to be able to search the forum easier.

I am having a problem after I installed Apache on my Windows Ultimate 64. It is not displaying in the Windows Start > All Programs and it is not displaying in the taskbar icons.

In respect to the taskbar, I clicked on customized and selected "Show Icons and Notifications" but nothing displays.

In respect to the Windows Start, in a previous .MSI installation I had it display Apache HTTPD Server, but after I reinstalled it using this method, its gone.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

[gdprogrammer59]

I tried a MSI installer when I first started using Apache (switching from IIS) and then a friend recommended the Zend installer, both of which I uninstalled to use the procedure you referenced (actually winged it on my own but the steps were essentially the same).

What did the MSI installer provide that you see is missing? If Apache is installed as a service (highly recommended), you don't need to run httpd.exe. And running ApacheMonitor.exe (in the Apache\bin folder), I believe it creates a short-cut in the startup folder so it auto starts. It has been a while and I don't remember inserting an entry into the startup folder but I could be wrong. Make sure to check the system tray for Apache Monitor (it may be hidden).

I have used PHP in both IIS and Apache and the zip file is the best method. The PHP zip file doesn't contain php.ini so you don't have to worry about it getting overwritten. The only thing you need to be aware of when updating Apache using the zip file is to save (copy, rename, etc.) the configuration files that you have modified. I currently utilize conf\httpd.conf and conf\extra\httpd-mpm.conf (no changes) and conf\httpd-ssl.conf. Before updating Apache, I copy the two files (httpd.conf and extra\httpd-ssl.conf) to httpd_yyyymmdd.conf and httpd-ssl_yyyymmdd.conf (the date being when it was last modified). Then I unzip the files and then copy these back to their correct names. Actually, whenever I change either of those files I save a copy named as above so that if something starts behaving oddly after a change I can view the differences between files and figure out what I changed.

I hope this helps!

[glsmith]

As gdprogrammer59 said, that was a .msi (Microsoft Software Installer) and it did all the work for you automatically. Using the zip is the back breaking manual way. You learn things along the way however that you never would using the installer.

The shortest answer to your question I can give is there is no short and quick answer.

I might add too, what are you going to do come Windows 8, that doesn't have a Start Menu (big mistake I think) unless they come out with a "for Desktops" version later on (I hope).

I just did an InstallWatch on the apache.org installer yesterday but have yet to wade through the 4000 lines of info. Quickly looking at it I see;

"Apache Online Documentation" which afterall are online, so you can just bookmark those, no need for a Start Menu icon for them.
http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/

The ApacheMonitor is great for Start/Stop/Restarting Apache, and it sits in your tray. Getting that to start when you log in is worthy and removes need for three icons.

"Edit the Apache httpd.conf Configuration File,"well you know how to do it now without that link, It would be easy to make a desktop icon for it however.

"Test Apache Configurations" is just
httpd -t

"Review Access Log" & "Review Error Log" would be easy to put on desktop too.

[glsmith]

I do have an Apache Installer program that I can take out the Icons part and create and installer to just install them.

By your last post in Apache Virgin, I fear you've drowned and moved to an installer based distro.