XAMPP for Windows - Apache not starting - apache

Question

I was trying to set up multiple websites on my computer, following this tutorial: https://delanomaloney.com/2013/07/how-to-set-up-virtual-hosts-using-xampp/
I stopped apache and then changed two files: hosts and httpd-vhosts.conf.
Here is hosts:
# Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
# 127.0.0.1 localhost
# ::1 localhost
127.0.0.1 localhost
127.0.0.1 www.sewing.dev
And httpd-vhosts.conf:
NameVirtualHost *:80
<VirtualHost *:80>
DocumentRoot "C:/xampp/htdocs"
ServerName localhost
<VirtualHost *:80>
DocumentRoot "C:/xampp/htdocs/sewing"
ServerName sewing.dev
ServerAlias www.sewing.dev
<Directory "c:/xampp/htdocs/sewing">
AllowOverride All
Require all Granted
</Directory>
</VirtualHost>
I saved the files and clicked to restart apache. Nothing happens. It says that it's attempting to start but doesn't actually start. I checked the error logs, but didn't see anything that I could understand.
Error log:
[Fri May 22 21:33:45.065111 2015] [ssl:warn] [pid 2136:tid 384] AH01909: www.example.com:443:0 server certificate does NOT include an ID which matches the server name
[Fri May 22 21:33:46.063513 2015] [ssl:warn] [pid 2136:tid 384] AH01909: www.example.com:443:0 server certificate does NOT include an ID which matches the server name
[Fri May 22 21:33:55.657529 2015] [mpm_winnt:notice] [pid 2136:tid 384] AH00455: Apache/2.4.10 (Win32) OpenSSL/1.0.1i PHP/5.5.15 configured -- resuming normal operations
[Fri May 22 21:33:55.657529 2015] [mpm_winnt:notice] [pid 2136:tid 384] AH00456: Apache Lounge VC11 Server built: Jul 17 2014 11:50:08
[Fri May 22 21:33:55.657529 2015] [core:notice] [pid 2136:tid 384] AH00094: Command line: 'C:\\xampp\\apache\\bin\\httpd.exe -d C:/xampp/apache'
[Fri May 22 21:33:55.657529 2015] [mpm_winnt:notice] [pid 2136:tid 384] AH00418: Parent: Created child process 3600
[Fri May 22 21:33:57.654333 2015] [ssl:warn] [pid 3600:tid 276] AH01909: www.example.com:443:0 server certificate does NOT include an ID which matches the server name
[Fri May 22 21:33:58.044334 2015] [ssl:warn] [pid 3600:tid 276] AH01909: www.example.com:443:0 server certificate does NOT include an ID which matches the server name
[Fri May 22 21:33:58.106734 2015] [mpm_winnt:notice] [pid 3600:tid 276] AH00354: Child: Starting 150 worker threads.
[Fri May 22 21:41:40.093670 2015] [mpm_winnt:notice] [pid 2136:tid 384] AH00422: Parent: Received shutdown signal -- Shutting down the server.
[Fri May 22 21:41:42.121674 2015] [mpm_winnt:notice] [pid 3600:tid 276] AH00364: Child: All worker threads have exited.
[Fri May 22 21:41:42.449274 2015] [mpm_winnt:notice] [pid 2136:tid 384] AH00430: Parent: Child process 3600 exited successfully.
When I comment out all of the httpd-vhosts.conf file, apache will start.

Answer 1

You need to close your default virtual host directive.
<VirtualHost *:80>
DocumentRoot "C:/xampp/htdocs"
ServerName localhost
</VirtualHost> # <<< missing closing directiv!!!