it actually is pretty simple once you get the hang of where to put the loaders and edit in php.ini this description is for Linux
Analysis
Analysis of your system configuration shows:
PHP Version 5.1.6
Operating System Linux
Threaded PHP No
php.ini file Check phpinfo() output for location
Required Loader ioncube_loader_lin_5.1.so
Instructions
To install the loader in your php.ini file, first check the location of the php.ini file from phpinfo output. Then edit or create the file, and add the following line before any other zend_extension lines:
zend_extension = /<path>/ioncube_loader_lin_5.1.so
where /<path>/ is where you've installed the loader, e.g. /usr/local/ioncube/
If there are no zend_extension lines already, you can put the line at any point in the file.
Finally, stop and restart your web server software for the changes to take effect.
Installing the Loader for run-time loading
To install for runtime loading, create a directory called ioncube at or above the top level of your encoded files, and ensure that the directory contains the ioncube_loader_lin_5.1.so loader. If run-time install of the Loader is possible on your system then encoded files should automatically install the loader when needed.