Newest daily build has a little more to say in the error message:

I am now running through the installation steps (this should take about 30 seconds)

If you receive a fatal error, refresh this page to continue the installation
# Creating 'mysite/_config.php'...
# Creating F:\xampp\htdocs\silverstripe\mysite/_config.php
# Creating '.htaccess' file...
# Creating F:\xampp\htdocs\silverstripe\.htaccess
# Building database schema...
# Checking mod_rewrite works...
# http://localhost/silverstripe/InstallerTest/testrewrite Rewrite is DirectorySlash On Order deny,allow Deny from all Allow from 127.0.0.1 RewriteEngine On RewriteBase /silverstripe RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !(\.gif)|(\.jpg)|(\.png)|(\.css)|(\.js)|(\.php)$ RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^(.*)$ RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f RewriteRule .* F:/xampp/htdocs/sapphire/main.php?url=%1&%{QUERY_STRING} [L] Creating F:\xampp\htdocs\silverstripe\.htaccess
# http://localhost/silverstripe/InstallerTest/testrewriteERROR: mod_rewrite not working, redirecting to mod_rewrite test page
# Creating F:\xampp\htdocs\silverstripe\.htaccess
I will now try and direct you to rewritetest to troubleshoot mod_rewrite

DirectorySlash was Off before, i changed to On but same problem...

take the newest release candidate... works

I have the same trouble installing SilverStripe - which I really want to use - but this is how it goes for me

in the tutorial here http://old.coupleofcents.com/installing-silverstripe-cms-on-godaddy
Everything this tutorial writes is what I get until just after this point here:
QUOTE (using the tag makes the text too small)
It seems to alternate between those two (I think this depends on whether you tried a refresh or not at the point of the initial rewrite error), and either way it won’t work. Edit the file to look like this (note the extra slash before ‘sapphire’ if your .htaccess looked like the second example above). Also please forgive the text wrapping on these examples:

Update: here is a link to an htaccess file from one of my working GoDaddy/SS installs. Do a File > Save As, rename it to .htaccess, upload it, and it should work. This avoids issues with copying and pasting from the browser.

AddHandler x-httpd-php5 .php
AddHandler x-httpd-php .php4

### SILVERSTRIPE START ###
RewriteEngine On

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !(\.gif)|(\.jpg)|(\.png)|(\.css)|(\.js)|(\.php)$

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^(.*)$
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteRule .* /sapphire/main.php?url=%1&%{QUERY_STRING} [L] ### SILVERSTRIPE END ###
END QUOTE

I do this last rewrite it the .htaccess and I still come up with the 404 Error page. Please help somebody!! I really want to use SilverStripe, but I'm getting frustrated.

I have the same trouble installing SilverStripe - which I really want to use - but this is how it goes for me

in the tutorial here http://old.coupleofcents.com/installing-silverstripe-cms-on-godaddy
Everything this tutorial writes is what I get until just after this point here:
QUOTE (using the tag makes the text too small)
It seems to alternate between those two (I think this depends on whether you tried a refresh or not at the point of the initial rewrite error), and either way it won’t work. Edit the file to look like this (note the extra slash before ‘sapphire’ if your .htaccess looked like the second example above). Also please forgive the text wrapping on these examples:

Update: here is a link to an htaccess file from one of my working GoDaddy/SS installs. Do a File > Save As, rename it to .htaccess, upload it, and it should work. This avoids issues with copying and pasting from the browser.

AddHandler x-httpd-php5 .php
AddHandler x-httpd-php .php4

### SILVERSTRIPE START ###
RewriteEngine On

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !(\.gif)|(\.jpg)|(\.png)|(\.css)|(\.js)|(\.php)$

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^(.*)$
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteRule .* /sapphire/main.php?url=%1&%{QUERY_STRING} [L] ### SILVERSTRIPE END ###
END QUOTE

I do this last rewrite it the .htaccess and I still come up with the 404 Error page. Please help somebody!! I really want to use SilverStripe, but I'm getting frustrated.

Did you try the newest Release Candidate?
[url=http://www.silverstripe.org/release-candidate/]http://www.silverstripe.org/release-candidate/
I could solve the problems by using it...

Look at that, the Release Candidate worked for me. I give it a second chance now ;) The fact that I got attended by mail about this topic made me try it ;)

It had to be an error in last version, nothing to do with my setup. Hope it solves problems for other people too?

I did try the latest version just now - this is what I get now and am not sure whatsoever what to do about it Any suggestions? Please?

XML Parsing Error: not well-formed
Location: http://underground.runningwatersproductions.com/home/successfullyinstalled?flush=1
Line Number 53, Column 75:
<div id="SilverStripeNavigatorMessage" title='Note: this message won't be shown to your visitors'>Published Site</div>

Thats just the xml parser being picky as normal (the title=' ' should be title=" "). You can remove the strict xml checking by editing the templates/Page.ss file in your themes folder and removing the <? xml... line