Question

I just finished installed Apache2.4.2 and pHp5.4.5
Now when is stated server i get PHP startup error “Unable to load dynamic library xyz.dll for about 12 extensions. Now when I copy files from pHp directory to system32, many of these errors get removed, but I’ve heard of environment variables and I want to use environment variables instead of copying every file to system32.

Thanks
Varun Agrawal

Answer 1

(Presuming Apache is running as Windows Service)

The following, from Search Order for Desktop Applications, describes the search order used to to locate a DLL:

• 1.The directory from which the application loaded.
• 2.The current directory.
• 3.The system directory. Use the GetSystemDirectory() function to get the path of this directory.
• 4.The 16-bit system directory. There is no function that obtains the path of this directory, but it is searched.
• 5.The Windows directory. Use the GetWindowsDirectory() function to get the path of this directory.
• 6.The directories that are listed in the PATH environment variable. Note that this does not include the per-application path specified by the App Paths registry key. The App Paths key is not used when computing the DLL search path.

By modifying the PATH environment variable to contain the directory in which your DLLs reside would allow them to be found. However, as Apache is running as a Windows Service not only would Apache require a restart, but the Services Control Manager would require a restart. The only way (that I know of) to restart the Services Control Manager is to reboot the machine.

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To edit the system PATH environment variable (on XP anyway):

• Right-click on My Computer and select Properties
• Select the Advanced tab in the System Properties dialog that appears
• Click on the Environment Variables button
• Locate PATH in the System variables list
• Click Edit and add your directory