How can Apache server configurations affect the execution of shell commands in PHP on Windows servers?

When Apache server configurations are not properly set up on Windows servers, it can affect the execution of shell commands in PHP. To solve this issue, make sure that the Apache user has the necessary permissions to execute shell commands. Additionally, check that the `disable_functions` directive in the php.ini file does not restrict the use of shell_exec or other shell-related functions.

<?php
$output = shell_exec('your_shell_command_here');
echo $output;
?>