Xampp crashes every time starting mysql

[haphazard]

Log files:


140225 11:09:18 [Note] Plugin 'FEDERATED' is disabled.
140225 11:09:18 InnoDB: The InnoDB memory heap is disabled
140225 11:09:18 InnoDB: Mutexes and rw_locks use Windows interlocked functions
140225 11:09:18 InnoDB: Compressed tables use zlib 1.2.3
140225 11:09:18 InnoDB: Initializing buffer pool, size = 16.0M
140225 11:09:18 InnoDB: Completed initialization of buffer pool
InnoDB: Error: space header page consists of zero bytes in data file \xampp\mysql\data\ibdata1
140225 11:09:18 InnoDB: Could not open or create data files.
140225 11:09:18 InnoDB: If you tried to add new data files, and it failed here,
140225 11:09:18 InnoDB: you should now edit innodb_data_file_path in my.cnf back
140225 11:09:18 InnoDB: to what it was, and remove the new ibdata files InnoDB created
140225 11:09:18 InnoDB: in this failed attempt. InnoDB only wrote those files full of
140225 11:09:18 InnoDB: zeros, but did not yet use them in any way. But be careful: do not
140225 11:09:18 InnoDB: remove old data files which contain your precious data!
140225 11:09:18 [ERROR] Plugin 'InnoDB' init function returned error.
140225 11:09:18 [ERROR] Plugin 'InnoDB' registration as a STORAGE ENGINE failed.
140225 11:09:18 [ERROR] Unknown/unsupported storage engine: InnoDB
140225 11:09:18 [ERROR] Aborting

140225 11:09:18 [Note] d:\xampp\mysql\bin\mysqld.exe: Shutdown complete


I've been trying for 4 weeks on and off to get mysql to work in xampp.

[haphazard]

Windows wanted me to do an update right then, had to shut down.

So here's the details: I've been in a mySQL class for a bit, and no one in the class is having problems but me. I'm not the only one running windows 8.1 either. I've opened all my ports that I've needed to, bypassed firewall and AV programs. I can't seem to find out what the problem is.

I purchased this laptop for the soul purpose of programming, and I can't get the darn thing to do what I want it to.

Any help would be much appreciated.