I too have this problem.
I am trying to install zencart on my local host (WAMPserver2) for testing and development, everything works fine, except for when I try to save my Database settings, it crashes the apache (v2.2.11) and forces me to save an empty index.php file, then hangs there. I've tried multiple methods and have read the tutorial several times, no luck.
P.S
I have noticed that on every page, above the installer it reads a command line similiar to:
PHP Code:
Deprecated: Function set_magic_quotes_runtime() is deprecated in C:\wamp\www\hnovelties\zc_install\includes\application_top.php on line 22
Is there something that I am missing? I cannot figure it out.