Apache Friends Support Forum

Error: Apache shutdown unexpectedly.
8:31:44 PM [Apache] This may be due to a blocked port, missing dependencies,
8:31:44 PM [Apache] improper privileges, a crash, or a shutdown by another method.
8:31:44 PM [Apache] Press the Logs button to view error logs and check
8:31:44 PM [Apache] the Windows Event Viewer for more clues
8:31:44 PM [Apache] If you need more help, copy and post this
8:31:44 PM [Apache] entire log window on the forums

Start by clicking the logs button on the Apache line (in the XAMPP control panel). There are some great posts tacked to the top of this forum that tell you how to deal with many of the specific errors you encounter. (I'm just a novice and still struggling to get Apache running as well, but the error log is definitely the place to start.) And read the posts from Altrea etc