XAMPP Apache won't start

As previously mentioned above in the comments - and tested out myself:

This error is rather ambiguous. Therefore, you should check the error.log located at \xampp\apache\logs

When I had this issue, it was because Skype was already listening on port 80 & 445. I was able to get around this by exiting Skype, starting the Apache service, and then restarting Skype. You can check the current port listeners by opening a command prompt and typing Netstat -a

It is also recommended to have User Account Control OFF as it may block some features built into xxamp.

Prior to this though, I had an issue after I modified my Apache httpd.conf file. Reverting those changes (or reinstalling in the user's case) will resolve that issue.

I had this problem as well in XAMPP [XAMPP Control Panel v3.2.1] on Windows 8 64bit.

The first thing I done was to use the "Take Ownership" command (see below for a link) and this created a better error message.

From the error message above it changed to: 5:49:08 p.m. [Apache] Problem detected! 5:49:08 p.m. [Apache] Port 80 in use by "C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" with PID 4968! 5:49:08 p.m. [Apache] Apache WILL NOT start without the configured ports free! 5:49:08 p.m. [Apache] You need to uninstall/disable/reconfigure the blocking application 5:49:08 p.m. [Apache] or reconfigure Apache and the Control Panel to listen on a different port

Closing skype fixes this, reopening skype allows it to change the port number itself.

Adding this only because Google finds this error as the best result for "xampp apache wont start". Sorry for posting on an older issue.

Take Ownership Command: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2814-take-ownership-add-context-menu-windows-8-a.html

I am using Window 7 and It was same problem with me,I am using Skype and Not start Apache, but finally solved this problem, and It's working now

Check connection setting In Skype click tools -> click option -> click Advanced -> click connection Unchecked port number and click Save.