Fixing the HTTP 500.21 Error - "Handler "PHP53_via_FastCGI" has a bad module "FastCgiModule" in its module list"

Recently, I have been working on several projects that I had only brainstormed for a few months and now it was time to actually start developing. One of those projects called for me to setup a new Windows 7 desktop to use PHP on IIS. After installing PHP through the "newish" Web Platform Installer from Microsoft, I tried browsing my PHP site and received a HTTP 500.21 error in my browser - "Handler "PHP53_via_FastCGI" has a bad module "FastCgiModule" in its module list".

Luckily for me, this is a very easy fix. Just follow these steps -

1. Open up your Control Panel and go to the Programs section and choose "Turn Windows features on or off".
2. Under Internet Information Services, select World Wide Web Services, then Application Development Features and check the box for CGI.
3. Click OK and install.
4. Load up your PHP webpage!

It's that easy! Good luck to everyone with their Windows based PHP development.