EasyPHP package to install and use Apache, PHPAdmin, MySQL
For Windows only (Mac users already have it easy. 😉 )
Just checked this out: EasyPHP.org. (This EasyPHP install guide has more instructions in English.)
This is indeed an excellent tool, delivering an apache, mysql, phpmyadmin installation that really is click and play.
When easyPHP is launched, its icon in the system tray blinks to let you know that the apache and mysql servers are running. A right click on the icon gives you quick access to log and config files, the localhost, an administration interface, stopping or restarting the servers, among others. From the admin interface you can go to phpmyadmin and start building your databases.
Special Bonus: because easyPHP is installed entirely in one location, you can install it on a USB stick too (not yet tested).
The readme.txt that got installed is in French, though the chosen language for installation was English. The documentation, help, faq seem to be mostly in French also.
One downside, depending on your perspective: all the help pages and documentation seem to be in French, in spite of the fact that the language chosen at installation was English. The site listed above gives some limited info in English.