xampp localhost not found

[xampplearner]

I am a new user to xampp having downloaded xampp in what seems a succesfull download, localhost does not respond in as much localhost not found by the browser.
suspect something probably quite simple? is out of place can anyone please point me in the right direction. system windows xp pro version 2002 service pack 3.

[glitzi85]

You downloaded XAMPP (Which package exactly?) and then? Did you follow the Instructions here: http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html#522

glitzi

[xampplearner]

Hi the version i installed was the xampp 1.7.0-1.6.8 installer. And yes installed as per the instructions.
And there is always a but, playing with things as you do i decided to see how easy it was to uninstall
not that good had to reinstall to uninstall .
I could allso though access localhost through the run section on the computer start menu but not the
browser.