Can't access XAMPP localhost

[rlattajr]

Hello.
Windows Version 5.1 Service pak 2
I have downloaded Xampp 1.7.7 and installed twice.
Control panel XAMPP version 2.5 16, March 2011
I wish to use word press and my machine as a local server.
Local host appears to be the issue.
My browser displays Local Host Not Server Local Host.
The first screen that I see is General Settings not the screen shown on all of the tutorials.
Actions
My SQL localhost
Create new database.
My windows firewall is disabled.

[Sharley]

Windows 5.1 Service pak 2 = Windows XP SP2
Local Host is always referred to as simply localhost
I have changed the topic title to a more meaningful subject


Is Apache and MySQL running?
Try using the new version 3 control panel found in the xampp folder after first clicking on the Exit button in version 2.5...
xampp-control-3-beta.exe
...it has more features and a more informative log window and it creates a log file in the xampp folder after it is started for the first time.
Latest version can be found and downloaded from here:
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=48932


You are typing http://localhost in your browser?

What are "General settings"?

You have disabled the Windows default web server IIS?

What does the error.log file in the xampp\apache\logs folder give as a clue?

[rlattajr]

Thank you for your reply .
I have opened the v3.0.2 version of the control panel.
My ISS is disabled.

Would my linksys router be causing any issues?

General Settings


*
MySQL connection collation utf8_general_ci.

Every video that I have watched shows the General Settings beneath
MySQL add a database.

I am not able to paste a jpeg of the screen in this message.

[Sharley]

Is it possible to answer ALL the questions I asked please?

Only you know how you have setup your router.

[rlattajr]

You are typing http://localhost in your browser? Yes
What are "General settings"?
General Settings

MySQL connection collation Documentation: utf8_general_ci

You have disabled the Windows default web server IIS? Not installed

What does the error.log file in the xampp\apache\logs folder give as a clue?
[Sat Nov 26 04:13:00 2011] [warn] pid file C:/xampp/apache/logs/httpd.pid overwritten -- Unclean shutdown of previous Apache run?
[Sat Nov 26 04:13:00 2011] [notice] Digest: generating secret for digest authentication ...
[Sat Nov 26 04:13:00 2011] [notice] Digest: done
[Sat Nov 26 04:13:02 2011] [notice] Apache/2.2.21 (Win32) mod_ssl/2.2.21 OpenSSL/1.0.0e PHP/5.3.8 mod_perl/2.0.4 Perl/v5.10.1 configured -- resuming normal operations
[Sat Nov 26 04:13:02 2011] [notice] Server built: Sep 10 2011 11:34:11
[Sat Nov 26 04:13:02 2011] [notice] Parent: Created child process 1284
[Sat Nov 26 04:13:04 2011] [notice] Digest: generating secret for digest authentication ...
[Sat Nov 26 04:13:04 2011] [notice] Digest: done
[Sat Nov 26 04:13:06 2011] [notice] Child 1284: Child process is running
[Sat Nov 26 04:13:06 2011] [notice] Child 1284: Acquired the start mutex.
[Sat Nov 26 04:13:06 2011] [notice] Child 1284: Starting 150 worker threads.
[Sat Nov 26 04:13:06 2011] [notice] Child 1284: Starting thread to listen on port 443.
[Sat Nov 26 04:13:06 2011] [notice] Child 1284: Starting thread to listen on port 80.

[Sharley]

Is that a "clean" Xampp Installation or did you

a) install any scripts/software into your Xampp installation (like WordPress)?

b) change (or copy) any file, i.e. any configuration file (like httpd.conf, my.ini)?

c) did you create or copy any .htaccess into you htdocs folder?

d) .... or or or ...?

after installing Xampp?

[rlattajr]

Yes it is a clean install.
I also removed the initial installation and reinstalled.
I did not install Wordpress into the installation.
I am not experienced enough to perform any of the other operations you refer to.