mail functions help

I'm trying to make sure that my mail functons are on for a script I need to work. I run an Apache 1.3.31, so I am my own webhost. Now I just need to know how to make sure my mailfunctions are on. Here is the mail functions part of php.ini pertaining to me (the windows part because I am on XP): [mail function] ; For Win32 only. SMTP = localhost smtp_port = 25 ; For Win32 only. ;sendmail_from = me@example.com There is no reference to sendmail_path and stuff in the windows section, only under Unix. I was told that I didn't need it for my particular background, is that true? I've been told stuff about how I need to make sure that my SMTP server (whatever that is??) is accepting stuff from localhost, etc, etc. If someone could clarify that'd be great. -Andrew