xampp apache not working err message api ms win missing

Question

Problem detected! Apache WILL NOT start without the configured ports free!

You need to uninstall/disable/reconfigure the blocking application
or reconfigure Apac         


        

Answer 1

Ok so that means your system has Microsoft IIS installed or one of the other bits of MS technology that reports that signature, they are doing that on later versions of Windows for some reason. If you are not intending to use it you can uninstall it, it is not an integral part of windows so its being uninstalled wont effect normal operations of windows, and if you need to install it again later, it comes as part of the standard OS so you wont need to do anything perticularly clever.

So go to

1. Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features
2. Click the 'Turn windows features on and off' link in the left hand menu.
3. Wait for the list to load and then find 'Internet Information Services'

Un check the check boxes for the following items ( you may not see all of them ), and there may be others I done know about. You may have all of these or just some of these.

1. IIS
2. Web Deploy 2.0 (Web Deployment Agent Service)
3. MS Sql Server Reporting service.
4. BranchCache ( Windows 8.1 )
5. SQL Server VSS Writer

List of possible service names not sure how up to date this is.

Tutorial on how to find what ports are in use on your system and what app is using them

Windows will then have a think for a while and then remove those applications, you will probably be asked to reboot to complete the uninstalls. Reboot anyway when the uninstalls are complete.

Then try XAMPP again.

Alternativeley just disable it/them.

Start -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services

Find IIS in the list of services. Left Click that line and select Properties