@WolfShadeThe removing of the Windows services entries in the registry via the Service Controller would apply if there were log files already created in the new installation or any previous installation.
There is no harm in trying that method though, but if it returns a message 'nothing to do' then the issue may well be the missing runtime file, as is often the case with older Windows versions like XP and Vista (and even with some newer Windows versions).
The indication of a missing runtime file is that no log files are created at all which means that Apache has never started, as it will create entries (often error messages) when at attempt is made to start and also entries are created when it stops.
Best wishes.