System: WinXP Service pack 3 intel® Core2 CPU 6700 @ 2.66GHz 2.76 GHz, 3.12 GB of RAM Ok this one has really got me. I have: switched off firewall, and antivirus (also set them as safe zoned for apache and SQL but not got it going with them off yet) checked port 80 - clear pinged 127.0.0.1 - and responds removed IIS searched and removed all instances of PHP.ini and libmysql.dll not part of uniform server searched for any clues over the net with reference Apache and this error can anyone suggest what may be causing this?