The requested URL was not found.. - base url works but deeper links dont?

[shtoom]

I just installed a mini cms and I have added this site to my virtual host files. The base url is:
minicms.local

When I go to minicms.local in the browser I see the homepage correctly but when i click on a link thats past the index.php i get this browser message:

Not Found

The requested URL /whatson/ was not found on this server.

wth is going on?

I think it may have something to do with the .htaccess file in this site? because in the .htaccess file there is this:

RewriteRule ^whatson$ /whatson/ [R]
RewriteRule ^whatson/(template=([a-zA-Z]+))?$ /index.php?content=whatson&template=$2

If i go to the long url it works but the shortened version doesnt?

basically this should work but doesnt:
minicms.local/whatson

instead i get this:

Not Found

The requested URL /whatson/ was not found on this server.

and for some strange reason this link works and shows me the webpage correctly:
minicms.local/index.php?content=whatson&template=$2

in the .htaccess file i have this at the top:
RewriteEngine on

If anyone has any ideas why the minicms.local/whatson/ doesnt work please let me know!?

P.S.
I just installed Apache, MySQL, PHP/phpMyadmin yesterday. I have the latest downloads for all of these. I dont know if this would cause a problem? I don't really want to revert to the older versions just to see if this fixes it. I am on XP 64bit and the only official XP 64bit installer was for MySQL the rest are standard 32bit. I hope I have given you enough information if not please ask me what more information you need?

[AnthonySterling]

Have you enabled mod_rewrite in Apache?

[shtoom]

ya i think so?
#LoadModule proxy_http_module modules/mod_proxy_http.so
LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so
LoadModule setenvif_module modules/mod_setenvif.so
#LoadModule speling_module modules/mod_speling.so

[shtoom]

For some strange reason when I click on a link that goes to a form it works.. Example:
http://minicms.local/forms/contact/

I guess this is because the contact form actually exists in that location the url is not being rewritten..

[shtoom]

any more help?

should i install an old version of php and apache?

[shtoom]

ive tried reverting to an older version of PHP (5.2.6) and it still doesnt work.

Why doesnt my url rewrite work?

This site works on my other computer and it used on a live site. What could be preventing and causing this message:

Not Found

The requested URL /whatson/ was not found on this server.