http://localhost/ not working on Windows 7. What's the problem?

Question

I have a big problem opening http://localhost/ on Windows 7 (beta). I installed this os and everything went great; when I installed Wamp I saw that localhost is not working at all. I just see this error:

Failed to Connect

Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at localhost.

in Mozilla and Explorer.

I removed Wamp and after some weeks (that means two weeks from today) I installed NetBeans on Windows 7. I created a test PHP script and when I debug it, I get the same error again. I tried to access it with ip 127.... but still the same. What is the problem?
When i installed NetBeans I installed it in port 8080.

Answer 1

Well you are getting a 404, so the web server is running, it just can't find the file.

Check the http.conf file. If it pointing to the right root directory?

If you are using different ports, then check http.conf to see if Apache is listening on the right port, or if apache is redirecting traffic on the port to anther root directory.

Maybe posting your http.conf file might help?

Answer 2

Just an idea.. don't you have running Skype? Because Skype is usually taking the port of the Wamp services.

Answer 3

My initial thought is that you are missing an entry in the hosts file. Something like "127.0.0.1 localhost", however, you mention that you are getting a 404 error. That means that the webserver is connecting to your client/browser and responding to the request for a particular webpage.

I'm not familiar enough with Windows 7, however, I'm pretty sure that it does not include a webserver by default. Also, unless you actually code, build and run a webserver application using netbeans you're not going to get the desired response.

When it comes down to it.... your issue is going to be one of the following:

1) you're serving static documents and the webserver is not configured to serve the files from whatever the proper DOCROOT should be. This includes PUBLIC folders in the user's directories. (the basic apache install include a basic homepage)

2) you have a dynamic webserver application where the controller is looking at the application path in order to decide what page to display or what function to execute. (see MVC - Controller). Basically incomplete implementation.

3) yet another configuration error: your website might actually define a virtual domain. (something other than localhost) so when you look for localhost in the URL the server might not be configured to provide a default page.

Answer 4

Edit your C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts file

Make sure there is an entry that looks like this:

127.0.0.1 localhost

If there is an entry like

:: localhost

Comment it out to look like this

#:: localhost

This should fix your problem, I've had this problem in the past.

Answer 5

If you installed it on port 8080, you need to access it on port 8080:

http://localhost:8080 or http://127.0.0.1:8080

Answer 6

put a dummy html on the home directory, then try to access the file directly http://localhost/dummy.html

Answer 7

Have you try the iis? Go to Control Panel->Programs and Features->Turn Windows features on or off (side bar). Try installing or reinstalling the Internet Information Service. I've a windows 7 with iis, with .net and php, and it works great...

Answer 8

If you're still having this problem, try this:

1. Edit your hosts file (with elevated privileges)
2. Uncomment the line "#127.0.0.1 localhost" (ie- remove the #)
3. Save the file as is. hosts with no extension

In Win7 MS has decided to comment the localhost line with that msg that says it's handled in dns. I'm still not exactly clear what they're getting at, except maybe that they're telling folks to use dns for localhost resolution instead of the hosts file. Probably safer that way, anyway.

Answer 9

For me, it was skype causing the problem. Once I stopped skype, everything worked. I have 1.7.1 xampp (mysql and apache) running on Windows 7 x64.

Answer 10

It sounds like you have no web server running at all anywhere.

Have you tried enabling IIS and using it to display a basic html file first?

Programs & Features -> Turn Windows Features On/Off -> Internet Information Servcies

Then, place your html file in C:\inetpub\wwwroot\index.html and browse to http://localhost.

Once this works, try to get WAMP/php working. Be careful of port conflicts.

Answer 11

Yea, this was a pain for me as well.

So what i did was find the "Start Wampserver", just hit the start button and type it in.

Then right click on it , select properties. I set it to run in XP servive pack 3 on the capatability tab. I also checked the box "Run this program as an administrator".

Then I right clicked the WAMPSERVER on the System Tray, and re-started all services. This worked perfect for me, hope this will help you as well.

Rob

Answer 12

Got any other Programs running ? msn ect... ? some bind to port 8080 then your webserver wouldnt start and would cause a 404 , try binding it to a different port 80 which its default should be

Answer 13

Assuming there is no problem doing a lookup on localhost (to 127.0.0.1), you need to make sure your server is listening to 127.0.0.1.

netstat works in both windows an UNIX. You probably need "netstat -a" to display listeners.

Answer 14

I have the same problem with apache server+windows XP and NOD32 The antivirus block's the browser to access port 8080 127.0.0.1 works fine but localhost doesn't After I close nod32 protection both works fine. How to add localhost exception on NOD32?

Answer 15

Hi,

To fix the Port 80 problem do:

From cmd as administrator:

1. sc config http start= demand (you need a space after the equal sign and not before)
2. Reboot
3. Run the command (netsh http show servicestate) as administrator to check that the port 80 is in use After you have run this command, you can disable http.sys as follows:
4. net stop http (stop the process)
5. Sc config http start= disabled (if u want to disable the service forever)

it works for me.

Answer 16

you have to install the service, go to wamp->Apache->Service->Install service, then a command prompt window will pop up, then press enter, and after a few seconds go to the same route Services-> and click Start/Resume service, and you ready

Answer 17

I got a 404 could not connect error then I set wampmanager.exe to run as Xp Sp3 and it seems to be working fine this can be done by

---

1. Right Clicking on it
2. Properties
3. click tab labled "Compatibility"
4. Tick Box just undeder "Compatibility mode"
5. Select Windows XP (Service Pack 3)
6. Click Apply then OK

---

Answer 18

But it is also true not to take everyone said for granted.

Answer 19

Hi - I have checked and re-checked and one minute I was using wamperserver and localhost fine, and the next I cannot get on at all. My wamp server colore is yellowe and my appache in not working.Please advise? I am using Windows 7

Answer 20

I have the answer right here: http://wp.xhezairi.com/wamp-localhost-redirect-fix-in-windows-7-beta.html

Answer 21

It was Skype interfering for me too. I changed the Skype settings (in Skype go to Tools > options > advanced > Connection and UNCHECK "use port 80 and 443 as alternatives for incoming connections") save then close Skype. I have Win 7 HomePremium 64 bit, had installed Xampp fine with MySQL running fine, but no matter how many times I started Apache (and console showed "Apache started") I still got the "firefox can't establish a connection" error in the browser. After Skype changes were saved, Apache showed the green "Running" and all working now thanks