Apache Install on Windows: Overview

1) Get a copy of the binaries for Windows.
Official Apache for Windows 2.2.2

To get other Windows compiled distribution of Apache 2.x.x see: Apache Binaries and other integrated distributions

Note: I was getting some memory errors when running the ApacheLounge 2.2.0 distribution. At this point, if relatively new to WAMP, I recommend using the official Apache.org distribution.

2) Copy those binaries in a folder like e:\Apache220

I prefer the manual installation, so I installed the Apache distribution on a "test" machine (following the installation wizard) and upload the "Apache" folder to the production server.

3) Make some initial basic changes to the http.conf file (mostly paths and permissions).
httpd.conf basic settings to get going on Windows

Please also check: Apache Errors & Bugs on Windows

4) Install the Apache Service
Install Apache as a Windows Service

Note: Some Apache installs will create the service for you. I prefer the manual install.
Manual install of most products from the Unix world are simple. In general, these products use "no to very little" registry settings (usually for the service definition itself and maybe a variable for the initial configuration file) or other DLLs copied in the "System" folder. This is a major difference from the Windows world were most programs adds tons of stuff to the registry and "System" folder.

5) Start the Apache Service

Note: You might also need to make sure IIS does not bind to all ips installed on this server.
Running IIS and Apache on the same server

6) Test your new Apache server
http://127.0.0.1/index.html (you should see: "It works!").

Later, you will want to run this Apache service under a more restricted account then "Local System".
See: Create a local account for running the service

To gracefully restart your Apache 2.2.x service, see: Graceful restart of Apache