Apache modules PHP

1) Download the Apache mod_fcgi module: http://fastcgi.coremail.cn/

2) Configuration in your Apache httpd.conf:
a) LoadModule fcgid_module modules/mod_fcgid.so

b.1) <Directory "C:/Apache2/htdocs/php/">
    SetHandler fcgid-script
    Options execCGI

Apache comes standard with the mod_deflate module that enable you to compress the content of web pages before they are sent over the wire. Please note that you should probably disable other compressors (like PHP compression, if enable) before using the Apache compression feature.

To enable compression under Apache with the module mod_deflate, please follow these instructions:

Once you have PHP is installed, see: PHP Install
Note: Running PHP as a "DLL" is a lot faster and more secure. It has a few limitations(?) but most apps are built to run with the ISAPI/DLL module.

Running PHP in CGI mode on Apache 2.x

I was running PHP as a module under Apache and decided to try the cgi mode. The instruction all over the web are pretty simple.
Add the following to your httpd.conf:

ScriptAlias /php52/ "E:/A22/php520/"
SetEnv PHPRC "E:/A22/php520/"
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php
Action application/x-httpd-php "/php52/php-cgi.exe"

The SetEnv line is useful to indicate were to look for your php.ini first.

To determine the modules your Windows Apache distribution was built/compiled with, run the command:
httpd -l
or
apache.exe -l

Trimmed down list of Apache modules

Here is a list of the minimum Apache modules to have Drupal running (Drupal is PHP/MySQL application):

LoadModule access_module modules/mod_access.so (only with Apache prior to 2.1)
LoadModule authz_host_module modules/mod_authz_host.so (only with Apache 2.1 and later)
LoadModule dir_module modules/mod_dir.so
LoadModule log_config_module modules/mod_log_config.so
LoadModule log_rotate_module modules/mod_log_rotate/mod_log_rotate.dll (details on mod_log_rotate)
LoadModule mime_module modules/mod_mime.so
LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so
LoadModule setenvif_module modules/mod_setenvif.so
LoadModule php4_module "E:/apache2/bin/php4apache2.dll"

Once familiar with the install process, see: Apache: Install PHP
In order to quickly shift between PHP versions here is my setup.

1) In your "bin" folder create a phpXXX folder (with XXX being the PHP version).
Example: E:\apache2\bin\php442

2) Copy the following 17 files, from your PHP version, to your phpXXX folder:
expat.dll

1) "Get Perl going" on your server using the ActiveState Perl 5.8.X release:
http://www.activestate.com/Products/ActivePerl/?psbx=1

2) Get the mod_perl.so built for your Apache Windows distribution and install (following their instructions).

3) Enable the module in your httpd.conf:
# Add to your httpd.conf
LoadModule perl_module modules/mod_perl.so