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I installed WAMP server 2.4 the latest one on its website which currently support PHP 5.4 and Apache 2.4. This works successfully. When I tried to downgrade the PHP version to 5.2 or another lower version, the system rejected this downgrading saying my Apache version is not compatible. So, I tried downgrading my Apache version, but it said it couldn't because my PHP version isn't compatible... apparently I am looping without being able to downgrade the PHP. Is there any solution for this?. I would very much appreciate any help on this.

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This is a classic binary-compatibility problem: the Apache and PHP binaries in a WAMP bundle are built to work together, so an older PHP module often won't load into a newer Apache (and vice versa). Mismatches in compiler, thread model, CPU bitness and Windows runtimes trigger the "not compatible" errors you saw — which is why swapping components in-place gets you stuck.

As noted, uninstalling your current WAMP would remove the environment your other site (Drupal 7) depends on; as suggested, reinstalling an older stack is a blunt fix. Safer approaches are to run a second, isolated stack alongside the current one, or to use a VM (VirtualBox/Vagrant) or a container (Docker). Each site then runs with the exact Apache/PHP/MySQL versions it needs without breaking the other.

Quick side-by-side workflow you can apply right away: install the older stack to a separate folder (for example C:\wamp_old). In that copy's Apache httpd.conf set Listen 8080 and ServerName localhost:8080. Add 127.0.0.1 oldsite.local to your hosts file and visit http://oldsite.local:8080. If you need MySQL running in parallel change its port to 3307 in my.ini and update the site DB settings. Put a tiny phpinfo() page in the webroot to verify which PHP is active.

Troubleshooting checklist: make sure both stacks use the same bitness (32- vs 64-bit), install the Microsoft Visual C++ redistributables required by each build, and check Apache error logs if a module fails to load. If you must run multiple PHP versions on the same Apache, look into FastCGI/PHP-FPM (more advanced). For reliability and minimal risk to your working Drupal site, keep separate stacks or use a VM/container rather than trying an in-place downgrade.

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Member Avatar for jj.dcruz

there is one solution for that
1. unistall the updated version
2. find the suitable php version or apache and then install it

hope this helps

Member Avatar for asker54

Thanks for your insight. I nstalled the new version of WAMP in order to utilize PHP 5.4 for a Drupal 7 website, but I needed lower version now in order to operate another site that works only on the downgraded version of PHP. If I uninstall the WAMP 2.4 as you suggested, the Drupal 7 website will not work. What do you think?

Member Avatar for jj.dcruz

did you try xampp?
well i think its better to use because of its multiplatform compatibility

Member Avatar for asker54

Unforetunately I am very used to WAMP, but thanks for the hint. Where is the web root folder in the case of XAMP. I had installed but only used it on simple php programs.

Member Avatar for asker54

Thanks for the hint and I started to use XAMPP as well installing back versions (XAMPP 1.6.8) to get PHP 5.2 variants installed. Thanks.

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