Php, apache, mysql Installation

[jpnrd]

First I installed activestate perl, then php using both windows installer and everything was grand.

Then I needed the gd.dll extension for php and I changed my php.ini file, only to find that I had to install another version of PHP because my build had a bug with extensions.

Then I installed nusphere OVER everything, to try and fix it, (nusphere is a dev platform with mysql apache, php, perl etc...)

I un-installed nusphere because it made matters worse, mysql wouldn't work at all, and php wouldn't even execute a simple script, I lost everything (no biggie, I have backup).

I re-installed php 4 (newest build), but apache and mysql are still screwed up. I installed mysql max, and apache 2 using their windows installers, yet I can't get them to start, let alone as a service. I still have the old apache and mysql on the services list, and I tried to delete them by running regedit and searching for apache and deleting the key.

I deleted one key manually but there was one LEGACY_APACHE that wouldn't go away.

Installing and un-installing apache doesn't work!

Help.. please...