Two days ago out of curiosity, I downloaded this new PHP social networking software called ElGG . Apparently it uses mod_rewrite extensively and provides no other alternative methods to access its function. I was thus forced into a corner. Hence I did what I did. I went to google.com and started researching. Interestingly, I read that some actually got mod_rewrite working on Apache server running on Windows XP.

I spent the next two days researching on the Apache architecture. The result I got was this assuming you already have multiple virtual host setup:

1. uncomment LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so in your httpd.conf file
2. add the following lines to your vhost.conf files

   <Directory “…”>
   #Tells your Apache webserver to detect for the .htaccess file in your directory
   AllowOverride All
   </Directory>

3. The below was copied lock stock and barrel from Joomla. Copy and paste it into a .htaccess file on your webserver and place it at the root location

   ##
   # @version $Id: htaccess.txt 10492 2008-07-02 06:38:28Z ircmaxell $
   # @package Joomla
   # @copyright Copyright (C) 2005 – 2008 Open Source Matters. All rights reserved.
   # @license http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU/GPL
   # Joomla! is Free Software
   ##

   #####################################################
   #  READ THIS COMPLETELY IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE THIS FILE
   #
   # The line just below this section: ‘Options +FollowSymLinks’ may cause problems
   # with some server configurations.  It is required for use of mod_rewrite, but may already
   # be set by your server administrator in a way that dissallows changing it in
   # your .htaccess file.  If using it causes your server to error out, comment it out (add # to
   # beginning of line), reload your site in your browser and test your sef url’s.  If they work,
   # it has been set by your server administrator and you do not need it set here.
   #
   #####################################################

   ##  Can be commented out if causes errors, see notes above.
   Options +FollowSymLinks

   #
   #  mod_rewrite in use

   RewriteEngine On

   ########## Begin – Rewrite rules to block out some common exploits
   ## If you experience problems on your site block out the operations listed below
   ## This attempts to block the most common type of exploit `attempts` to Joomla!
   #
   # Block out any script trying to set a mosConfig value through the URL
   RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} mosConfig_[a-zA-Z_]{1,21}(=|\%3D) [OR]
   # Block out any script trying to base64_encode crap to send via URL
   RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} base64_encode.*\(.*\) [OR]
   # Block out any script that includes a <script> tag in URL
   RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\<|%3C).*script.*(\>|%3E) [NC,OR]
   # Block out any script trying to set a PHP GLOBALS variable via URL
   RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} GLOBALS(=|\[|\%[0-9A-Z]{0,2}) [OR]
   # Block out any script trying to modify a _REQUEST variable via URL
   RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} _REQUEST(=|\[|\%[0-9A-Z]{0,2})
   # Send all blocked request to homepage with 403 Forbidden error!
   RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php [F,L]
   #
   ########## End – Rewrite rules to block out some common exploits

   #  Uncomment following line if your webserver’s URL
   #  is not directly related to physical file paths.
   #  Update Your Joomla! Directory (just / for root)

   # RewriteBase /

   ########## Begin – Joomla! core SEF Section
   #
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/index.php
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (/|\.php|\.html|\.htm|\.feed|\.pdf|\.raw|/[^.]*)$  [NC]
   RewriteRule (.*) index.php
   RewriteRule .* – [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization},L]
   #
   ########## End – Joomla! core SEF Section

If you are still having problems after all these steps contact me. I will help set it up for your nicely.