After we updated our computers to Windows 10, we weren’t able to run the Apache modul on Xampp anymore. The error mesage was the following:

Problem detected! 09:06:26 [Apache] Port 80 in use by “Unable to open process” with PID 4! 09:06:26 [Apache] Apache WILL NOT start without the configured ports free! 09:06:26 [Apache] You need to uninstall/disable/reconfigure the blocking application 09:06:26 [Apache] or reconfigure Apache and the Control Panel to listen on a different port

Since we didn’t change anything about our ports and before the update everything worked well, it had to be an issue related to the Windows 10 update.After a few failed tries we’ve come to a post on Stackoverflow: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/27333203/xampp-couldnt-start-apache-windows-10

Seltsamerweise, hat uns der Eintrag mit der vom Fragesteller akzeptierten Lösung nicht weitergeholfen. Jedoch lief Apache mit der Lösung des Users ‘DIANGELISJ‘ wieder.  Nachfolgend haben wir die vorzunehmenden Schritte nochmals aufgelistet.

1. open CMD as administrator
2. type sc stop W3SVC and push the enter key
3. restart Apache

Although Apache is supposed to work perfectly fine now, there’s still an issue. As soon as you restart your computer, you will have to redo this process again. If one of you readers out there has a permanent solution for this, please have the kindness to share with us in the comments.

Uh, and here’s how you can start W3SVC again if you need to.

1. open CMD as administrator
2. type net start W3SVC and push the enter key