This is what I was told from a friend:
I would like to use the AddHandler option versus the .htaccess option. But I don't know where the php.ini file is. When setting up the stand alone version of php you copy the php.ini-DIST (or something like that) to php.ini and place it in a designated area....yes you have to add a handler in your php.ini file or in an htaccess file.
looks like this.
AddHandler application/x-httpd-php .html
Did I confuse you yet?
Thanks in advance..