If you want to check if your apache mod_rewrite is working in your server, follow this great tutorial. it shows you step by step on what to do:

http://www.webune.com/forums/how-to-test-check-if-mod-rewrite-is-enabled-t40.html

another way to check is by going to your httpd.conf file in your server. if you have shared hosting, then dont' worry, you won't be able to because you need shell access. but if you have a server, like a dedicated server where you are the administrator, then you can open the httpd.conf file and look at the line where you find mod_rewrite, just make sure this line is not comment out (meaning it has a pound sign at the begining, if it does, just remove it, but removing the pound sign, it will enable the rewrite directive. by they way, the pound sign is the symbol that looks like the number signe - like this: # its the symbol on the number 3 on your keyboard.

the httpd.conf file can be found at /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.cof

find this line:
# LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so

change it to:

LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so

MORE INFORMATION:


Dynamic Shared Object (DSO) Support

To be able to use the functionality of a module which was built as a DSO you
have to place corresponding `LoadModule' lines at this location so the
directives contained in it are actually available _before_ they are used.
Statically compiled modules (those listed by `httpd -l') do not need
to be loaded here.

Example:
LoadModule foo_module modules/mod_foo.so




DONE

Hope this helps