@leoherderWiedmann was being very helpful in the style that he knows best - it is normal practice to try and start Apache (or MySQL) using the
apache_start.bat file (or mysql_start.bat file) if either fail to start in the normal manner as it will usually return a message explaining why they can't start.
Perhaps you could paste here the message in the console window after running the
apache_start.bat file using the
Edit menu found after clicking on the small icon top left in the console window.
BTW it looks like you have an issue with your virtual host entry and I believe you have been given some wrong instructions in the book you are reading.
Virtual host settings are placed in the file
xampp\apache\conf\extra\httpd-vhosts.conf file not in the httpd.conf file - so I would delete the entries you made in the httpd.conf file and then use the httpd-vhosts.conf file.
NameVirtualHost 127.0.0.1:80 - should be:
NameVirtualHost *:80<VirtualHost 127.0/0.1:80> - should be:
<VirtualHost *:80>This should be:
<VirtualHost *:80>
DocumentRoot "C:/seophp"
ServerName seophp.example.com
<Directory "C:/seophp">
Options Indexes FollowSymLinks Includes ExecCGI
AllowOverride All
Order allow, deny
Allow from all
</Directory>
</VirtualHost>Always save the file after editing and restart Apache to have the edits recognized.
You also have to create an entry in
C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\Hosts file:
127.0.0.1 seophp.example.comSave the file after editing and try your URI
http://seopphp.example.com in your browser again after making sure that Apache has started and remains running.
It is also helpful for troubleshooting if you include your XAMPP version and OS.
Another issue I spotted is you have installed XAMPP to a folder with a space in the name (Program Files) which may give you more issues down the track.
Always install to the root of a drive or partition like C:\ then XAMPP will be installed in C:\xampp which is the default and will always work down the track.
Please let us know back if the above helped in any way.
Thanks.