While Robertn' observation is true (within limits) for running perl scripts from the Windows command line (but note that it's perfectly possible to run 
C:/perl foo.cgi
too), in the OP's situation, the Apache configuation determines the required file_type_extension for the script... which may be .cgi, .pl or either.

In reply to Re^2: Serious newbie needs some help with a cgi script on a windows platform by ww
in thread Serious newbie needs some help with a cgi script on a windows platform by elbee

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