Installing Personal Web Server

Note: If you are running Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional (NOT XP Home Edition) you should install IIS instead of PWS.

PWS is best described as a poor mans web server - it is not intended to be used in a production environment. However, it is perfect for use on your own computer, where it allows you to test your scripts before uploading to your production server or Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Starting the Installation

There are two places you can get PWS, both of which are free. The Windows 98 CD includes it, and you can download it from the Microsoft web site.

Warning 1: Microsoft does not recommend installing PWS on Windows Me or XP Home Edition, although they admit it can if you are an "advanced user who regularly tests unsupported software configurations". More...
Warning 2: There is a fairly rare problem with MTS that may cause you problems later.
I recommend following the instructions here before you start...

Downloading from Microsoft.com

If you don't have the Windows 98 CD, you can download the NT4 Option Pack which, believe it or not, contains Personal Web Server for Windows 95 and 98.

Be aware that the download is 34mb, which will take nearly 3 hours to download with a 28.8 modem.

To start the download, follow these steps:
1. Go to the microsoft.com web site. (clicking here opens a new window, so you can continue to read this tutorial)
2. Follow the instructions on the web site, choosing Windows 95 as the operating system even if you're running on Windows 98.
3. After the download, the installation starts - skip to step 5 below.

Installing from Windows 98 CD

The Windows 98 CD includes PWS, but you need to run a separate setup program to fully install and configure it. Microsoft recommends that you have at least a 90 MHz Pentium processor with 20-32 MB RAM, 40MB free disk space and a Super VGA monitor

To start the installation, follow these steps:
1. Insert your Windows 98 CD in its drive.
2. Click Start and then click Run.
3. In the Run dialog box, type x:\add-ons\pws\setup.exe
4. Substitute the letter of your CD drive for x, and click OK.
5. The following screen will appear.

Since we're installing PWS specifically for running ASP applications, we need to override Microsoft's recommendations, and go for the Custom button.

The Typical installation doesn't include the excellent ASP documentation, so we'll ask the Setup to install it.

The custom installation has all the Typical components selected, so all we need to do is find the checkbox for the ASP documentation, and check it! It's 3 levels down?

Highlight "Personal Web Server (PWS)", being careful not to uncheck the box, then choose "Show Subcomponents?"

Second level down now, getting closer.

Highlight "Documentation", again without unchecking the checkbox, then choose "Show Subcomponents?"

Finally we arrive at the relevant page.

Check the checkbox next to "Active Server Pages", then choose OK.

Choose OK once more, then Next to continue with the next step of the installation.

Accept the default path, or change it - it's up to you! I recommend using the default.

After waiting for the installation to complete, you'll be asked to restart your computer (but wait just a minute).

When you do, you'll see something new in your system tray on the taskbar, which shows that your PWS is now up and running. Congratulations!

A quick way to test it is to go to the following URL - write this down, and bookmark it in your browser later - http://localhost/iishelp. This brings up the excellent help that covers PWS and has a handy ASP reference too.

Note: On some systems that URL has been reported as not working, so use the long-hand version instead: http://localhost/iishelp/pws/misc/default.asp

OK, if you're installing PWS with this tutorial running, go ahead and restart your computer now!