Apache 2.2 + PHP 5.3.2 + cURL not working

When I try to start the Apache server (with PHP and cURL extension), it says:

The Apache2.2 service is restarting.
Starting the Apache2.2 service
The Apache2.2 service is running.
rmine the server's fully qualified domain name, using 192.168.1.8 for ServerName
[Tue Sep 07 14:30:57 2010] [warn] pid file C:/Program Files (x86)/Apache Software Foundation/Apache2.2/logs/httpd.pid overwritten -- Unclean shutdown of previous Apache run?

(I'm guessing that the fourth line should start something line "Determine"; probably a race condition.)

Then it terminates (and if I retry I get the same "unclean" message). If I comment out the extension=php_curl.dll in php.ini, httpd.exe works again. The PHP error log is empty.

When I run php-cli, cURL functions normally, so it must be caused by some magic behind the scenes that I don't know anything about.

Suggestions? Can I retrieve more information some way? Thanks!

Edit: Apache + PHP works nicely without cURL.

From serverfault Jonas Byström

• Looks like non-production server to me. You can install XAMPP or WAMPP, it has all the extensions already functioning out of the box. No need to waste time with server config.

  [XAMPP] - http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html

  [WAMPP] - http://www.wampserver.com/en/

  From Alex

• You might be using the wrong PHP version :

  Which version do I choose?

  If you are using PHP with Apache 1 or Apache2 from apache.org you need to use the VC6 versions of PHP

  So first make sure you're using VC6 (Thread safe) and check if that solves the problem, or alternatively remove your current apache, php and mysql and install Zend Server CE.

  Jonas Byström : I was already using VC6 TS for Apache 2.2 plug-in, but upgraded to PHP 5.3.3 and that did the trick for me. Thx!
  From wimvds