Load index.php as default or mod_rewrite?

[gunface]

The main page that loads for my domain root is index.php, and for some reason when you type the full path to this page instead of the domain alone, I get all kinds of relevant Google ads.

( See - http://www.v7n.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14392 )

Basically, since no one as of yet can determine the reason for this, I'm looking for a technical work-around. I've already tried uploading an index.html and having that page redirect to index.php - it works, but I'm scared Google will penalize me for redirecting. Is this true? If someone could specifically tell me how to implement a solution, (mod_rewrite?) it would be much appeciated.

Thanks...

[seonewbee]

You can use .htaccess to set the default page

DirectoryIndex index.php

You can also use .htaccess to redirect all your other pages (index.htm, index.html) to index.php

Redirect 301 index.htm http://www.yourdomain.com/index.php

You do mod rewrite in your .htaccess file. To do mod rewrite you will ne something like this

RewriteEngine On
 RewriteRule ^index.html$ /index.php  [R=301]

Hope that this points you in the right direction.

[gunface]

I'm wondering if the redirect will be penalized by Google's search?