How to solve Apache 2.4.3 (with XAMPP 1.8.1) not starting in windows

Problem:

Just got XAMPP 1.8.1 installed on my Windows 8 PC, this version includes packages mentioned below:

    Apache 2.4.3
    MySQL 5.5.27
    PHP 5.4.7
    phpMyAdmin 3.5.2.2
    FileZilla FTP Server 0.9.41
    Tomcat 7.0.30 (with mod_proxy_ajp as connector)
    Strawberry Perl 5.16.1.1 Portable
    XAMPP Control Panel 3.1.0 (from hackattack142)

When I launched and tried to start Apache, it gave following error:

    12:04:41 PM  [Apache] Attempting to start Apache app...
    12:04:41 PM  [Apache] Status change detected: running
    12:04:42 PM  [Apache] Status change detected: stopped
    12:04:42 PM  [Apache] Error: Apache shutdown unexpectedly.
    12:04:42 PM  [Apache] This may be due to a blocked port, missing dependencies,
    12:04:42 PM  [Apache] improper privileges, a crash, or a shutdown by another method.
    12:04:42 PM  [Apache] Check the "/xampp/apache/logs/error.log" file
    12:04:42 PM  [Apache] and the Windows Event Viewer for more clues

After that I checked error.log, it was empty so no help from there.


Solution:


This problem may occur due to apache not getting required port (default is `80`).

The port may be being used by other services.

For example: Skype also has default port `80`.

Installing Skype and Apache both on same machine will cause conflict and hence Apache will not start.

Either, you change Skype port or change Apache port as described in following steps:

Change the ports of Apache and it will work for you.
Go to httpd.conf

**How to change port for Apache:**

Search for:

ServerName localhost:80

Change it to:

ServerName localhost:81

Also Search For:

Listen 80

Change it to:

Listen 81

If you have created any virtual hosts, change the ports there also.
Then restart your apache.


Reference:

https://stackoverflow.com/a/18306621/1841760