5.6.15 won't install

[Apache-User1]

I'm a newbee to xampp and php, and mysql, and...experience with perl and c and IT (20 years firewalls networking etc) though.
Have done some html but want to start using php.

Clicked on v5.6.15 xampp for Windows install (on apachefriends page) >saved to C drive

Ran it, bitnami comes up
Clecked next a few times
Welcome to xampp comes up and appears to start > installing
c:\xampp\apche\bin\httpd.exe is not a valid win32 application
click ok
php.exe not a valid win32 app

read online maybe xampp needs 64 bit OS ?
Tried wamp no success either
Been doign this for over 4 hours (snow outside anyways)

I do not have VC installed, not sure why I need it yet.
Want to do this all command line at first.

RUN xampp.exe and Apache won't start, no PID either
mysql will start
filezilla will start
Tomcat cannot be found

[Altrea]

Windows XP or 2003 are not supported. You can download a compatible version of XAMPP for these platforms here.

Source: https://www.apachefriends.org/en/download.html

[Apache-User1]

ANd how would one know which of those list will work ?

[Apache-User1]

I aaume I'm looking for 5.4.17

[Apache-User1]

Somehow I got redirected to souceforge.net but the versions jump from 1.8.2 to 5.6.3 - no 5.4.17

[Apache-User1]

Ok, I found 5.4.17 at secure.php.net but no windows msi tar only

Beginning to wonderf if Apache is worth all this extra effort

[Altrea]

ANd how would one know which of those list will work ?

None of the current versions will work.

Somehow I got redirected to souceforge.net but the versions jump from 1.8.2 to 5.6.3 - no 5.4.17

And why do you think is the HERE link pointing to XAMPP 1.8.2? Because it is the last version supporting Windows XP.
So USE XAMPP 1.8.2. I don't think that is so difficult to understand...