There are two approaches to installing MySQL, Apache, and PHP under Microsoft Windows:
Obtain an installation package or packages. This is the best choice because it's the simplest. The disadvantage is that packages don't always contain the latest software.
Obtain and build the software from source code. This isn't possible unless you've previously installed a C compiler and other support tools that are needed to compile software. The advantage is you always get the latest versions.
Most Windows users don't have a C compiler, so this section focuses on using a package.
In addition to a working Windows 2000 or 2003 installation, you'll need a Zip program to extract files. If you don't have one, a good choice is InfoZIP's free program Wiz from http://www.info-zip.org/pub/infozip/WiZ.html. Windows XP comes with Zip software installed.
We don't cover installation on Microsoft Windows 98 or earlier versions.