Yes, your files appear to be in the correct locations but as an issue comparison, Apache likes exclusive use of port 80 and if IIS or Skype are using port 80 then Apache simply won't start.
Similarly, Apache uses exclusively the php.ini file in the
.\xampp\apache\bin folder and if the PC System has an alternative path in the
System\User Environment Variables then Apache\PHP will not function without issues.
You may have had or still have another instance of PHP, which Izzy mentions in his more than comprehensive troubleshooting posts, that residues after uninstalling the other PHP instance may also be the cause of this error message - Eclipse for example is known to have it's own PHP instance and to change the Environment Variables with it's own path to the php.ini file.
Open
http://localhost and click on the
phpinfo() link and look for this line:
Loaded Configuration File C:\xampp\apache\bin\php.ini - your path to
xampp may be slightly different.
If your line has any different php.ini location then you may have to do some tweaking.
Izzy wrote:The other possibility is that you have had another php installation or still do and the Windows environment path is sending requests to it perhaps or, after installing XAMPP a reboot may be required to have the C:\xampp path recognized.
To check your Windows paths and edit them to include the C:\xampp\php path go here:
(I have only XP but one would assume that your OS would be similar)
Open the Windows Control Panel
Click on System->Advanced->Environment Variables
There are 2 path locations
User variables->PATH
System variables->Path
Click on Edit on both of these and add at the beginning
C:\xampp;C:\xampp\php;
Click OK Click OK Click OK
Then try again to run the batch file - you may have to reboot your computer to have the new paths recognized.
Also when in the above Environment Variable window check for an entry PHPRC which may include the other PHP instance's path which will also cause the PHP included in XAMPP to use the wrong php.ini file - I don't have that entry so it would be safe to assume that removing that entry or editing the path location will be of help.
Once you have the
phpinfo() showing it is using the correct
Loaded Configuration File (C:\xampp\apache\bin\php.ini) then you should be able to switch php versions without issue.