Cannot connect to localhost

[localhostxampp]

Operating System: Windows XP

When I try to open http://localhost or http://127.0.0.1, I get this error message in Firefox:
"Failed to Connect
Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at localhost
Though the site seems valid, the browser was unable to establish a connection.
* Could the site be temporarily unavailable? Try again later.
* Are you unable to browse other sites? Check the computer's network connection.
* Is your computer or network protected by a firewall or proxy? Incorrect settings can interfere with Web browsing."

I tried restarting the computer, reinstalling Xampp, I made sure nothing else was using ports 80, 443, or 3306, and I tried turning off the firewalls, all with no effect.

However, when I open C:\xampp\htdocs, I get the files in the directory, not the index.html page.
My computer also uses a LAN internet connection, which I'm thinking might somehow be connected, since it uses port 8080. But even when I turn off the internet, I can't connect to localhost, which I should, since it's on my computer.

Any ideas? I'm out of them.

[Wiedmann]

Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at localhost

Start Apache and try again.

[localhostxampp]

No effect. Perhaps I killed it. ><