Xdebug + XAMPP + Netbeans = fail. Cannot get debugger to work in Netbeans - xampp

Question

I've read other questions regarding this topic. The listed solutions haven't worked.
Installed:
XAMPP 1.7.7
Netbeans 7.1.1
XDebug 2.1.4
phpinfo() shows that Xdebug is installed with all the correct parameters:
zend_extension = C:\xampp\php\ext\php_xdebug-2.1.4-5.3-vc9.dll
xdebug.remote_enable = on
xdebug.remote_handler = "dbgp"
xdebug.remote_host = "localhost"
xdebug.remote_port = 9000
However, when I start a Netbeans debug session, it cycles for awhile with no effect. When I stop it, I get the Info box informing me that "No connection from xdebug was detected with in nn seconds. The reasons could be that xdebug is not installed or not properly configured. (their emphasis).
As far as I can tell, I configured everything correctly, restarted the Apache server and it still doesn't work. I'm at a total loss on how to proceed. Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

Can you believe it!? After spending literally HOURS researching this problem, I finally found the cause which I can only classify as a bug. Now, how do I report a bug? That's the next question.
Here's a summary:
create PHP project and setup NetBeans project site root to subfolder.
(In order to not register for Apache new test site for any new task I
put every new task into subfolder under my local test domain, e.g.
http://test.my/project3/ ). NetBeans will not start debugging session
automatically in this case. You will see a ‘waiting for connection’
message from the image below. Do not worry. Left it as it is. Go to
your browser. I use FireFox 4. And call the script you wish to debug
with additional parameter, e.g.
http://test.my/project3/index.php?XDEBUG_SESSION_START=netbeans-xdebug
When you return to NetBeans you will see that connection with xdebug
is established successfully. To stop XDebug session manually call any
script from the same subdirectory with this parameter
?XDEBUG_SESSION_STOP_NO_EXEC=netbeans-xdebug
The complete solution can be found on my newest hero's blog NetBeans 7.0 for PHP Waiting for Connection to XDebug
Edit: Know what I just discovered? I removed index.php as the index file of my run configuration. Works like a charm without having to manually insert the xdebug section of the url.

Answer 2

I just ran into this with Netbeans 8 and while your answer worked around my problem I think I found the solution that will fix it forever.
Project Properties => Run Configuration => Advanced ...
Ensure that the following entry is selected
Debug URL: 'Default: YOUR URL'
Mine was set to "Do Not Open Web Browser" .....
Now it works as it used to work many months ago :)

Answer 3

I am a .Net programmer and very new to PHP. Recently I was trying to host an open source PHP application on my machine(Windows). After the Struggle for 5-6 days I will list the steps which worked for me.
I uninstalled every previous installations of XAMPP and NetBeans and proceeded with fresh installations.
This might not be the solution for everyone but it worked for me and I hope it helps someone.
install XAMPP
install netbeans for PHP.
Open IIS and stop it. It is running on port 80 by default.(I am running XAMPP on port 80 i.e. default, Running on other port might need additional configuration settings)
Open XAMPP control panel and start Apache. If port 80 is free no problem should arise.
Open localhost in browser in should display XAMPP home page.
open phpinfo() link on the left pane and copy all the contents on page. Go to: http://xdebug.org/wizard.php and paste all the content in TextBox and click Analyze my phpinfo output. It will diplay you the Xdebug file suitable for your configuration.
Download the given Xdebug dll and copy it in C:\xampp\php\ext (Xampp being the default Xampp installation directory)
Goto XAMPP control panel, click on Config button in front of Apache and select php.in,
Find line similar or exacly like,
;zend_extension = "C:\xampp\php\ext\php_xdebug.dll"
(Semicolon means it is commented)
Remove the semicolon and replace the path with the path of dll you just copied like:
zend_extension = "C:\xampp\php\ext\php_xdebug-2.3.2-5.4-vc9.dll"
Similarly find lines
;xdebug.remote_enable = 0 ;xdebug.remote_handler = "dbgp"
remove semicolons in front of both lines and make remote_enable = 1
xdebug.remote_enable = 1 xdebug.remote_handler = "dbgp"
Restart Apache server.
Copy your website code under C:/XAMPP/htdocs/(your_website)/ that means your index.php should be at C:/XAMPP/htdocs/(your_website)/index.php
Open Netbeans select New project -> PHP -> PHP project from existing source and select the folder you just copied in htdocs folder. Set it to run on Local web server.
Set a breakpoint on first line of index.php and debug.
That's it.
Additional settings were suggested on various different posts but above mentioned steps worked perfectly for me.

Answer 4

I think what you might be missing is
xdebug.idekey=netbeans-xdebug
this is the settings I use in my php.ini
xdebug.remote_enable=1
xdebug.remote_handler=dbgp
xdebug.remote_mode=req
xdebug.remote_host=127.0.0.1
xdebug.remote_connect_back=1 # Not safe for production servers
xdebug.remote_port=9000
xdebug.idekey=netbeans-xdebug
xdebug.remote_autostart=false

Answer 5

Read the installation of XAMPP 1.7.7 & Netbeans 7.1 with edditing
the php.ini file as suggested:
http://netbeans.org/kb/docs/php/configure-php-environment-windows.html
Create your PHP project in the local XAMPP directory, c:\xammp\htdocs\*yourproject*
Debug the index.php, you will see that your browser will start with additional parameters:
http://*yourproject*/index.php?XDEBUG_SESSION_START=netbeans-xdebug
Go to your Netbeans, your debugger will be started.