I don't have a web server installed on my computer, as the site I'm desinging is hosted by a company. I am just learning PHP and would like to download and install it on Windows so I can view my local files to make sure I have everything right, instead of constantly uploading and viewing to make proper changes. Can this be done without installing a server? If not, what would I have to do (in simple terms- I'm learning, but still not very knowledgable about this stuff).

No, you'll need a server. WAMP is probably the easiest way to get going: http://www.wampserver.com/en/

dude, just goto a site that alredy has PHP..like my free forum uses that... www.myfreeforum.org or other sites like that. takeforum.com/ uses it too. Just look up on google FREE FORUM HOSTING PHP just look upo what was just ins caps and it should work dude...lol np

install wamp on your pc (installs php, apache server, phpmyadmin, mysql)

then go to your browser and type in localhost

then open the file you want

You really, really don鈥檛 want to try it without a webserver. There鈥檚 a command line version of PHP, but if you鈥檙e going to test your code, you want to do it in a server type situation.

Install Apache, then PHP. Google them, and get them from their sites. The install instructions are in the documentation files for each.

If you have windows xp pro, php can be setup with IIS.