Apache 2.4.3 (with XAMPP 1.8.1) not starting in windows 8

Question

Just got XAMPP 1.8.1 installed on my Windows 8 PC, this version includes packages mentioned below:

Apache 2.4.3
MySQL 5.5.27
PHP 5.4.7
phpMyAdmin 3.5.2.2
FileZilla FTP Server 0.9.41
Tomcat 7.0.30 (with mod_proxy_ajp as connector)
Strawberry Perl 5.16.1.1 Portable
XAMPP Control Panel 3.1.0 (from hackattack142)

When I launched and tried to start Apache, it gave following error:

12:04:41 PM  [Apache]   Attempting to start Apache app...
12:04:41 PM  [Apache]   Status change detected: running
12:04:42 PM  [Apache]   Status change detected: stopped
12:04:42 PM  [Apache]   Error: Apache shutdown unexpectedly.
12:04:42 PM  [Apache]   This may be due to a blocked port, missing dependencies, 
12:04:42 PM  [Apache]   improper privileges, a crash, or a shutdown by another method.
12:04:42 PM  [Apache]   Check the "/xampp/apache/logs/error.log" file
12:04:42 PM  [Apache]   and the Windows Event Viewer for more clues

After that I checked error.log, it was empty so no help from there.

Answer 1

So here is the solution for this:

I check port 80 used by Skype, after that I changes port to 81 and also along with that somewhere i read this error may be because of SSL Port then I changed SSL port to 444. However this got resolved easily.

One most important thing to notice here, all the port changes should be done inside config files, for http port change: httpd.conf for SSL httpd-ssl.conf. Otherwise changes will not replicate to Apache, Sometime PC reboot is also required.

Edit: Make Apache use port 80 and make Skype communicate on other Port

For those who are struggling with Skype, want to change its port and to make Apache to use port 80.

No need to Re-Install, Here is simply how to change Skype Port

Goto: Tools > Options > Advanced > Connection

There you need to uncheck Use port 80 and 443 as alternative for incoming connections.

That's it, here is screen shot of it.