Will Not Load " php5apache2_4.dll " on Windows 8

Copyright 2015 Albert E. Benjamin

If you install apache in a command window, you will get an error message stating that "php5apache2_4.dll is not a valid win32 application". This is usually caused by not having matching versions of PHP and Apache.

First, determine whether your Windows system is actually 32-bit or 64-bit. To determine this, go to "Settings---> "Control Panel"---> "System"---> :"System Information".

After you determine whether you have a 32-bit or 64-bit system, then download the appropriate PHP and Apache versions.
     For 32-bit systems:  PHP5.6.xVC9x86.  and Apache apache2.4.xVC9x86.
     For 64-bit systems: PHP5.6.xVC11x64 and Apache 2.4.12VC11x64.

Also, they must both be either "Thread Safe" or "Non-Thread Safe". 

Note that the PHP site (php.net) states that the 64-bit versions are experimental. If you're uncomfortable with this, then download the 32-bit versions of both Apache and PHP.

Also, I recommend the binaries from "Apache Lounge".