all variables unset on w2k pro.

Hi everybody. I've been trying to install php 4.2.2 on my w2k box. I'm using apache 1.3.6 or is it 1.3.26? but the problem is the same with IIS. I can add the cgi og the sapi module, but the problem is the same. I HAVE NO VARIABLES!!!! This piece of code (for example): <?php $variable = 'This is a variable'; echo 'Variable contents: '.$variable; ?> gives this output: "Variable contents: " This happens to all variables, cookies, variables passed ind the url, every thing.... What's wrong? I tried installing SP1 and SP2 but it made no difference. I didn't use the php installer, i used the manual install. And trying version 4.2.1 made absolutely no difference, what's wrong? Help Lasse