Why won't Apache start in XAMPP installation?

Question

I've taken the first steps to learning PHP - think it would be a good step in the right direction. I would like some help however on installing XAMPP. I have downloaded the file and all that through the Apache Friends site, but when I head to to control panel, I get numerous errors.

This is what it says for me:

**10:21:53  [Apache]    Problem detected!
10:21:53  [Apache]  Port 80 in use by "Unable to open process" with PID 4!
10:21:53  [Apache]  Apache WILL NOT start without the configured ports free!
10:21:53  [Apache]  You need to uninstall/disable/reconfigure the blocking application
10:21:53  [Apache]  or reconfigure Apache and the Control Panel to listen on a different port
10:21:53  [Apache]  Problem detected!
10:21:53  [Apache]  Port 443 in use by "C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" with PID 3748!
10:21:53  [Apache]  Apache WILL NOT start without the configured ports free!
10:21:53  [Apache]  You need to uninstall/disable/reconfigure the blocking application
10:21:53  [Apache]  or reconfigure Apache and the Control Panel to listen on a different port
10:21:53  [main]    Starting Check-Timer
10:21:53  [main]    Control Panel Ready**

Could someone please tell me what this means and how I remedy it? Thanks very much.

Answer 1

It seems that port 80 and 443 is used by another program. From my experince - open Skype. Go to Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Connection. Please uncheck "use port 80 and 443 as alternatives...."

Then, try to restart Apache.

Answer 2

I tried this and it worked really well...

As you have already figured the port 80 is in use by something with pid 4

This application's detailed info can be seen using the details tab on the task manager window.

However I found out the application is not writable and hence I figured it shouldn't be touched.

Instead I changed the port of the apachae server on xampp to be 85

Open xampp and click on config in front of apache then select the first option that appears allowing you to open httpd.conf and then in the notepad file that opens up, find the word listen and go to the 4th word that it finds.

It will read something like Listen 80

Change this to any number except 80 (like 85) and voila it work

Answer 3

Opening the XAMPP control panel as Administrator worked for me.

Answer 4

The solution for me was to:

1) Stop IIS (stop the "World Wide Web Publishing Service" and set its startup type to Manual)

2) Stop the "Web Deployment Agent Service" and set its startup type to Manual.

...as detailed in http://www.sitepoint.com/unblock-port-80-on-windows-run-apache/

Answer 5

Port 80 in use by "Unable to open process" with PID 4!

A process with a PID of 4 that is taking port 80, is almost always the Window's HTTP.SYS Service. It's a type of a proxy service for other services. And it's safe to disable it in most cases.

From command-line, Run As Admin.

net stop http
sc config http start= disabled

Or you can switch it's Startup Mode to "On Demand".

For more options and also a list of other port 80 Services see Opening Up Port 80 For Apache to Use On Windows.

Answer 6

Steps which u can try:

1) uninstall or stop Skype and check again after restarting the server.

2) use this to get the port usage details : use cmd netstat -a -b

3) or use this GUI tool to identify the ports used by other programs.

4) uninstall Xammp and try with Wamp Server

Answer 7

in my case a website was configured on IIS , i stopped and it worked well.

Answer 8

You have to close down Skype. It tells you exactly why it can not start in the error message.