Puzzling problem loading extensions in v5.2.16

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jsachs
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Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2010 1:59 pm

Puzzling problem loading extensions in v5.2.16

Post by jsachs »

Here's a very strange problem that I encountered while trying to upgrade from PHP v5.2.5 to v5.2.16 (both thread-safe versions under Windows XP with Apache 2.2.17).

PHP works, but phpInfo tells me that none of the optional extensions are getting loaded.

I've discovered that if I replace the v5.2.16 ext directory with a copy of the v5.2.5 ext directory, the extensions ARE loaded, and all appear to work properly.

In other words, v5.2.16 appears to be compatible with the extensions that were distributed with v5.2.5, but not with its own.

I'm quite ready to believe that I've misinterpreted my findings, and the problem is less bizarre than it seems. I don't see another interpretation, though. Can anybody suggest one?
josh
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Re: Puzzling problem loading extensions in v5.2.16

Post by josh »

jsachs wrote:In other words, v5.2.16 appears to be compatible with the extensions that were distributed with v5.2.5, but not with its own.
It would be the other way around. Remove all traces of the old PHP files from your system before installing the new one, or use WAMP which has point & click to switch versions, load & unload extensions.
jsachs
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Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2010 1:59 pm

Re: Puzzling problem loading extensions in v5.2.16

Post by jsachs »

The problem turned out to be that the PHP installer gave me a complete set of non-thread-safe extensions, even though I installed the thread-safe version of PHP. I learned that from PHP startup messages in Apache's error log. I fixed it by downloading the ZIP file of the thread-safe package and unpacking the extensions. (I originally installed from an MSI file.)

That possibility did not initially occur to me because I never downloaded a version of PHP that was supposed to be non-thread-safe. I checked phpInfo before I fixed the problem, and it confirmed that I had installed a thread-safe PHP.

I'm interested in the point-and-click configuration you mentioned; I wasn't aware of such a feature, and it would make this type of work easier. I looked at my PHP directory, but the only EXE files it contains are php.exe itself, and php-cgi.exe. Can you tell me what to look for?
josh
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Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2004 3:23 pm
Location: Palm beach, Florida

Re: Puzzling problem loading extensions in v5.2.16

Post by josh »

Its a third party program, called WAMP
jsachs
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Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2010 1:59 pm

Re: Puzzling problem loading extensions in v5.2.16

Post by jsachs »

WAMP is an unfortunate name, since it's also the generic term for a "Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP" environment. All of the search engine hits I found were for the latter meaning. I also tried SourceForge and Tucows, but I didn't see it there. Can you tell me where to look? Thanks.
josh
DevNet Master
Posts: 4872
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2004 3:23 pm
Location: Palm beach, Florida

Re: Puzzling problem loading extensions in v5.2.16

Post by josh »

http://www.wampserver.com/en/

It actually came up as 1st result for me when searching 'wamp'
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