Problem installing XAMPP - Apache won't start

[jen333]

I am a web developer and am so looking forward to getting into Joomla but can't even get the XAMPP to insall properly. Can you help me with this please?

I have downloaded XAMPP from apachefriends.com successfully however when I try to install it Apache is refusing to start.

I have watched the Installing XAMPP by Andrew and all goes well until I get to open the XAMPP Control Panel. I can't get Apache to START.

I have checked the http://localhost/ and of course this page is blank.

I am using Vista Pro. I have disabled ports 80 & 443 in Skype. Any ideas?

I would be so grateful if someone could help me??

Thanks Jen

[seocntrlcntr]

You can start a Command Prompt, locate the apache.exe file and type "apache -t". If the apache configuration file is OK, it will respond with an OK.

Try start the "apache" from the command prompt as well to see if it display errors. Also check the apache log files for error messages.

It may be that your firewall is blocking apache for listening to port 80 or 443. Try your Windows firewall settings (or what ever firewall brand you're using).

[lmacd]

Turn off Skype. If that allows Apache to open, disable the "Use port 80 as alternative port" in the advanced options of Skype.

Took me 18 hours to find that out.

[treewat]

Turn off Skype. If that allows Apache to open, disable the "Use port 80 as alternative port" in the advanced options of Skype.

Took me 18 hours to find that out.

Thumbs up. I had the same problem and turning off Skype and unchecking "Use port 80 as alternative port" solved the issue.

I would have never figured out that myself. A user in the Joomla IRC channel helped me a lot - we talked over Skype and used application sharing. All I can say is that my first impression (I am a complete beginner) with the Joomla community is more than excellent!

I was going to share the solution with the community so that everyone else benefit from my Skype conversation but now I see it available here.

[sir les]

Had the same problem - deleted Skype and Appache started working.
I have been totally stumped by XXAMP several times and this forum has got me going again everytime - big tick for the forum. Thanks

[2potatocakes]

Hi guys,

I ran into the same problem as you all. In case anyone else stumbles across this forum, here's how to fix it.

Apache has problems starting up is because it is usually trying to use ports that are already being used by other programs. Especially Ports 80 and 443. Rather than going to lengths trying to figure out what is using the ports you need and disabling them you can just simply specify new ports for xampp to use.

Change the following lines in your xampp configuration by opening them up in a text editor like notepad or whatever you use

C:\xampp\apache\conf\httpd.conf:

* Scroll down and find “Listen 80″, change to “Listen 8080″
* Also find “ServerName localhost:80″, change to “ServerName localhost:8080"

C:\xampp\apache\conf\extra\httpd-ssl.conf

* Scroll down and find “Listen 443″, change to “Listen 4499″
* Also find “<VirtualHost _default_:443>”, change to “<VirtualHost _default_:4499>”
* and just below that find “ServerName localhost:443″, change this to “ServerName localhost:4499″

Now try re starting xampp and seeing if apache starts correctly. If it does you just have to remember to specify the port when you're using your browser. So now rather than just going to:
http://localhost/xampp/
You should now use: localhost:8080 (or whatever port you specified in httpd-ssl.conf)
http://localhost:8080/xampp/

*Also note, you don't specifically have to use ports 8080 or 4499. If you're still having problems and try repeating the steps and specifying a different port instead.

Kind Regards,

Lucas

[RiverLee]

I was having a similar problem when I had installed apache so I got rid of what I had done so far and ran xampp in hopes that this would help.

Now I have a similar but different issue, even after changing ports. I cannot view localhost:8080 in Internet Explorer and I get redirected to the xampp/splash.php file in Firefox, however, nothing appears. HELP?

[2potatocakes]

splash.php white screen of death huh? There's a couple of things you can try. First, I know its silly but make sure to clear your browser and cache history and try again. Most likely this is not the problem but it's always good to check the easies first.

Your browser may have some security settings not allowing localhost or 127.0.0.1 for some reason. See if this works:
Try putting into your browser:
https://127.0.0.1:4433 <-- because its https you'll need to use the port number you specified in the http-ssl.conf file. In my last message I used Port: 4433 as an example
If it forwards you to a page asking to add a security exception, follow the prompts and eventually you will see in the address bar "https://127.0.0.1:4433/xampp/splash.php". You may now surf to any localhost address you like so long as your browser address starts with "https://127.0.0.1:4433/"
It's a dodgy hack but it works for some.

If that doesn't fix your problem. Make sure the port you're trying to connect on is not blocked by your own firewall. Also, try a different obscure port number, I perhaps shouldn't have written 8080. Try something like 8093. Then go to Control Panel -> Windows Firewall -> Exceptions -> add port and add port 8093 or whatever port you want to use.

Good luck

[humvee]

I was having a similar problem when I had installed apache so I got rid of what I had done so far and ran xampp in hopes that this would help.

Now I have a similar but different issue, even after changing ports. I cannot view localhost:8080 in Internet Explorer and I get redirected to the xampp/splash.php file in Firefox, however, nothing appears. HELP?

Did you actually unistall Apache (having first stopped any service that may have been running)?
Check your services manager and see what entries are present for Apache.
Then open XAMPP control panel and stop the Apache server and deselect it from running as a service.
Reboot your computer, now check your services manager again and see if there is still a reference for Apache showing up?
If you had previously installed Apache MySQL and PHP manually there is a strong possibility that they will have created configuration documents within the Windows directories/root and that is where your issue lies.
Also if it is available on your installation make sure that IIS6/7/8 is not actually installed and or running.

[Schmutzka]

Ultimate solution! If your Skype is just not the problem...

Go to: C:/xampp/xampp-portcheck.exe/
Using Windows your ports 80 and 443 are probably blocked by Internet Information Services (IIS) (something like services/intserv...)
How to remove: http://support.microsoft.com/default.as ... -us;321141

Then restart and it's works! (5 hours took myself to find out )

[the qwerty]

Hey guys

I had the same problem, i solved it w/ 2potatocakes solution and worked very well.
I installed wordpress on to XAMPP, everything worked fine, i was able to edit etc my page.
now I tried to access my server (typing http://localhost:8080/wordpress/), but it shows some error. It says Error establishing a database connection.
I look at XAMPP and MySql is not running and cant run.
I tried running MySql from its own file but in the console it says
"System error 1067 has occurred.
The process terminated unexpectedly"

how do i fix this problem?

[markuskg]

Turn off Skype. If that allows Apache to open, disable the "Use port 80 as alternative port" in the advanced options of Skype.

Took me 18 hours to find that out.

I did not have the same problem but my friend did. He spent three days to solve that out.

[steve1234]

Make it a first point check, When ever web server service is unable to start , check that the port no. it is trying to bind is not pre-occupied. This is very common thing and will save you tons of time.

Cheers!!

[haiwasnm]

Ultimate solution! If your Skype is just not the problem...

Go to: C:/xampp/xampp-portcheck.exe/
Using Windows your ports 80 and 443 are probably blocked by Internet Information Services (IIS) (something like services/intserv...)
How to remove: http://support.microsoft.com/default.as ... -us;321141

Then restart and it's works! (5 hours took myself to find out )

helpful for me check out your tips, i using 1.7.2 and can not start blocked by Skype

[rendomhn]

hehe! This problem same me too! No worry! I were find out this problem by myseft.
You can go to xampp directory and finding apache_start.bat , you can see screenshot cmd run:


and you will see apache is running!





Goood luck!

[kamil shaikh]

I have same problem i tried a alot but not work in the end i tried this method after i succeed.


Go to Start -> Run
type cmd and press enter

This will bring you to the command prompt. Type "sc delete MySql" and hit enter. It will give you some sort of confirmation saying the service has been deleted.

This will delete MySql as a service. For some reason, XAMPP for Windows has problems running MySQL as a service, so do not check that box. Also, when you click the "Admin" link from the XAMPP control panel, it attempts to start MySQL as a service as well. Just don't do that. Any settings you need to change for MySQL should be modified by changing the config files directly with your favorite text editor, or you should be able to use PHPMyAdmin.

Hope this helps.

[tschumler]

Did you read the information about possible Windows Vista problems and install xampp accordingly? http://www.apachefriends.org/en/faq-xam ... html#vista

[bsrweb]

Hi - i tried all these advices but no luck
My status looks like this...

Help anyone?

[tschumler]

This is ok. Apache is running and MYSQL too. The others which are not activated you can ignore since you do not need them.

[bsrweb]

i found out what made chaos - but my next problem has now ocurred.
I tried installing - all went fine - except importing test data... writing something about wrong xml return from server. Så when i open the site it looks like [censored] and nothing works - solution?

[tschumler]

You probably have an installation without test data. If you want it with test data, install it again or install a second version with test data. Your clean installation you can then use for development of your website.

[ossnext]

Hello all,

Concerns Windows 7 and Xampp only.

If you have tried all the solutions listed here and still have a problem because Windows 7 Service Manager and Apache are not working together, this may be for you.

In my case, I originally installed xampp to D:\ not C:\. http port was set at 8080 and httpd port at 4999. It worked fine.

Then I had to de-install xampp (and everything in the bundle) for some reason.
xampp deinstalled, but compained it couldn't remove some directories. I did not pay much attention. netstat showed 8080 was no more in use.

Then I noticed under Windows Services Manager, there was an entry Apache2.2 (Apache/2.2.1 Win 32). Attempting to start it would fail with "file not found". I suspected it had to do with leftovers (or the lack of it) in D:\.

I couldn't find anything under Windows Add/Remove Programs that I could use to clean up D:\. So I manually removed the "remnants" left in D:\, and re-installed Xampp under C:\. Ever since, httpd wouldn't start. I tried the usual suspects. httpd syntax was ok. But no luck.

So I removed Xampp *again*.

And I installed it back under D:\. Then changed http port to 8080 and https port to 4999 in the conf files.

That did the trick. Windows Service Manager started Apache2.2 service successfully and status showed up under Xampp Control Panel.

My http://localhost/8080 is working fine now.

Hope this helps anyone who might have landed in a less than clean install situation.

OSSnext

[reallyrose]

I made an account to thank this whole thread. Sorted all of my XXAMP woes!

[humvee]

Hello all,

Concerns Windows 7 and Xampp only.

If you have tried all the solutions listed here and still have a problem because Windows 7 Service Manager and Apache are not working together, this may be for you.

In my case, I originally installed xampp to D:\ not C:\. http port was set at 8080 and httpd port at 4999. It worked fine.

Then I had to de-install xampp (and everything in the bundle) for some reason.
xampp deinstalled, but compained it couldn't remove some directories. I did not pay much attention. netstat showed 8080 was no more in use.

Then I noticed under Windows Services Manager, there was an entry Apache2.2 (Apache/2.2.1 Win 32). Attempting to start it would fail with "file not found". I suspected it had to do with leftovers (or the lack of it) in D:\.

I couldn't find anything under Windows Add/Remove Programs that I could use to clean up D:\. So I manually removed the "remnants" left in D:\, and re-installed Xampp under C:\. Ever since, httpd wouldn't start. I tried the usual suspects. httpd syntax was ok. But no luck.

So I removed Xampp *again*.

And I installed it back under D:\. Then changed http port to 8080 and https port to 4999 in the conf files.

That did the trick. Windows Service Manager started Apache2.2 service successfully and status showed up under Xampp Control Panel.

My http://localhost/8080 is working fine now.

Hope this helps anyone who might have landed in a less than clean install situation.

OSSnext

Just as an addon to this thread and this post in particular. If XAMPP has been installed so that Apache and / or MySQL run as services:

A: You must stop the servers before trying to uninstall them
B: You must uncheck the tick boxes in the XAMPP control panel to stop them being counted as services, BEFORE you try to uninstall XAMPP.