Failed to start the Apache service

[FiRe]

A while ago I installed AppServ, which is a little tool that sets up apache, php and mysql on my computer so I can develop scripts locally. It's been working fine for ages, until recently where apache is no longer loading at start up, and everytime I try to start it (AppServ provide you with a .bat file which starts apache) it just says "Failed to start the Apache service". Eventually I can get it to run but it does take a few attempts, I usually have to do it through the Apache Service Monitor but even that doesn't work first time! I have checked my firewall and it is definitely unblocked (its the crappy windows one), do you think there is something conflicting with apache? Maybe using another port? I have also checked my services and apache is set to automatic start up! I am using apache 1.3.33 with php 4.3.11 on windows xp, any suggestions? Thank you :-)

[jdMorgan]

Have you checked the error log files?

The next thing to check is to make sure all previous instances of Apache are stopped before trying to start a new instance, and also to make sure that the IIS server bundled with Windows isn't running.

If another server is already running, Apache won't be able to bind to the TCP/IP socket, because it will already be in use.

Jim

[FiRe]

Nope IIS is not even installed and there does not appear to be any other version of apache. I installed WOS (web server on a stick) the other day which installs apache, php & mysql on to a USB memory stick, but the problem started before I did this. These are the first couple of lines from my error log:

The system cannot find the path specified.
h file or directory: make_sock: unable to listen for connections on port 80
Apache server shutdown initiated...
[Sun Nov 27 01:18:31 2005] [error] [client 127.0.0.1] File does not exist: c:/appserv/www/appserv/readme-en-us.php
[Sun Nov 27 01:22:31 2005] [error] [client 127.0.0.1] File does not exist: c:/appserv/www/test.php

Do you think I should try and update apache to the latest version? I am worried how this will effect my computer setup.