Apache 2.4.3 (with XAMPP 1.8.1) not starting in windows 8

Question

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.

Ishan Dhingra · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-18T04:56:52.303

54

So here is the solution for this:

I check port 80 used by Skype, after that I changes port to 81 and also along with that somewhere i read this error may be because of SSL Port then I changed SSL port to 444. However this got resolved easily.

One most important thing to notice here, all the port changes should be done inside config files, for http port change: httpd.conf for SSL httpd-ssl.conf. Otherwise changes will not replicate to Apache, Sometime PC reboot is also required.

Edit: Make Apache use port 80 and make Skype communicate on other Port

For those who are struggling with Skype, want to change its port and to make Apache to use port 80.

No need to Re-Install, Here is simply how to change Skype Port

Goto: Tools > Options > Advanced > Connection

There you need to uncheck Use port 80 and 443 as alternative for incoming connections.

That's it, here is screen shot of it.

Changing Skype Port

edited Feb 18 '13 at 04:56

answered Nov 12 '12 at 07:37

Ishan Dhingra

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Thanks, this fixed the same problem for me. I had just reinstalled Skype and so this explained a lot! – rschwieb Feb 18 '13 at 03:05
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If problem still persists after doing above steps,just restart the computer and it will be solved. – Mehul Joisar Jun 15 '13 at 06:23
Thank you! Skype was my problem! – Markus Knappen Johansson Sep 03 '13 at 11:22
never expected this to work. but it worked, nice one – Anonymous Dec 09 '14 at 10:42

score 21 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 26 '12 at 19:26

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I had the exact same error.

It was because i didn't run setup_xampp.bat

This is a better solution than going through config files and changing ports.

answered Dec 26 '12 at 19:26

Amr H. Abd Elmajeed

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I notice that this was happening for me as, however, I couldn't run setup_xampp.bat manually either. – Keyslinger Jan 21 '13 at 17:26

Pupil · Answer 3 · 2015-11-04T04:08:23.390

20

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.

edited Nov 04 '15 at 04:08

answered Aug 19 '13 at 04:58

Pupil

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Yep, this is indeed the right way to go about it. +1 – Amal Murali Apr 22 '14 at 04:06
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+1 . This was the one that fixed it for me! Thank you! – Jun 22 '14 at 19:54

score 9 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 09 '13 at 06:15

I had the same problem, but I understand the VMware service is the problem. VMware host service and Apache service conflict together.

To Solve it » Run your task manager » in services tab find VMwareHostd » then right click and stop it » every thing have been solved.

Mihai · Answer 5 · 2012-12-20T12:42:13.337

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Enter services.msc and shutdown anything SQL you have running. The SQL server might be taking over the port.

edited Dec 20 '12 at 12:42

answered Dec 18 '12 at 17:49

Mihai

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How can SQL (be it MS SQL Server (1433) or MySQL(3306)) block (in your language take over) apache port??? – Manjoor Feb 19 '13 at 11:41
hmm, thanks, it seemed in my case, SQL Server did took over the ports and when I stopped them, Apache server started. – VasileF Jan 25 '14 at 14:53

score 3 · Answer 6 · answered Jan 23 '13 at 14:30

3

I had the same problem and error, I tried changing the ports for http port from 80 to 81 and ssl port from 443 to 444 but still received the same error so I reverted the ports to default and ran setup_xampp.bat which solve the problem in seconds.

answered Jan 23 '13 at 14:30

alkathirikhalid

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score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Jul 25 '13 at 20:43

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Skype is usually the culprit because it uses port 80 by default. Just close it or uncheck "Use port 80 and 443 as alternatives for incoming connections" under tools > options... > advanced > connection and then restart Skype.

answered Jul 25 '13 at 20:43

OmidS

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score 1 · Answer 8 · edited Aug 17 '15 at 20:26

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I had to manually edit the 2 text files (httpd.conf and httpd-ssl.conf) using the Config button for Apache to run and change in notepad from 80 > 81 and 443 > 444

Using the Xampp UI config manager doesn't save the changes into Apache.

edited Aug 17 '15 at 20:26

Community

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answered Mar 04 '13 at 11:56

user2131624

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I have the Skype app on Windows 8, which apparently doesn't want to let the user do anything useful. AFAIK, there's no straightforward way to set the Skype port numbers. I edited httpd.conf and httpd-ssl.conf and everything worked again. – bethadele Sep 17 '13 at 23:13

score 0 · Answer 9 · answered Mar 28 '13 at 21:09

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change 80 to 81 and 443 to 444 by clicking config button and editing httpd.conf and httpd-ssl.congf. Now you can Access XAMPP from 127.0.0.1:81

answered Mar 28 '13 at 21:09

user2221456

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score 0 · Answer 10 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:52

An error in your httpd.conf or other Apache config files will cause this. Revert httpd.conf et al to the pristine, installer versions and see if Apache runs again.

(I tried Skype and other suggestions here, no luck, but logs [XAMPP > Apache > Logs button] showed that it ran once when first installed. That was the giveaway.)

Likely errors:

Did you edit with a Windows text editor that changes line endings to non-Unix? (Solution here.)
Missing or invalid DSO files (.so)

score 0 · Answer 11 · answered Nov 12 '13 at 00:55

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I had this problem and then I ran "apache_start.bat" the error in german told me there was a problem with line 51 in httpd-ssl.conf which is

SSLCipherSuite HIGH:MEDIUM:!aNULL:!MD5

What I did was comment lines 163 (ssl module) and 522 (httpd-ssl.conf include) in httpd.conf; I don't need ssl for development, so that solved it for me.

answered Nov 12 '13 at 00:55

SparK

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Could you please elaborate what you did exactly? In my case in line no 522 in httopd.conf file I get the line . And where to get ssl module file so that I wud search line no 163? What is exactly in line no 51 of httpd-ssl.conf file in your case, because in my case it's shows a different text. – Ipsita Rout Dec 27 '16 at 06:46
Line 163 of httpd.conf was enabling the ssl module. But that's so long ago I don't use windows anymore. (I really recommend rolling release distros of our beloved gnu/linux os... I'm using an arch based one called Apricity OS, it's great) – SparK Dec 27 '16 at 16:01

Apache 2.4.3 (with XAMPP 1.8.1) not starting in windows 8

11 Answers11