INSTALL HELP !!! XAMPP 1.4.16, ZENCART 1.3.8a

totally new to e-comm, I have XP windows, and yesterday i installed zen-cart 1.3.8a according to the "e-start Your web store " book step by step. I downloaded the Xampp 1.4.16 (25 mb) to a C:\zencart dir. I reached as far as page 35 , i.e opened the CONTROL XAMPP SERVER PANEL. The panel opned with only fillazilla running. The rest were not . I ticked the rest of the services, and clicked the respective start buttons. The response was-- they would not start and aseperate message would be read as "stated" server busy". So i un-installed everything and started again several times. Still same problem. I cannot progress further from here. Please help. Is Xampp 1.4.16 correct for zen cart 1.3.8a?
:(:(

Try WAMP instead..much easier...
http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&products_id=586
with
http://www.wampserver.com/en/

Thank you Misty for your prompt reply,
Is the installation as usual like other programs?
Once i have installed WAMP, do i then carry on installing zen-cart 1.3.8a according to the "e-start Your web store " book step by step ?
I have never done this before but would love to setup an e-comm store. If you have anymore advice-would be greatly appreciated. thanxs.

Is the installation as usual like other programs?
Download WAMP, then USE link quoted in my previous post, to download details on how to install wamp then zencart

You might want to use the "xampp-portcheck.exe" program that comes bundled with XAMPP to check whether other programs are preventing your Apache and MySQL from starting as mentioned here.

Also do make sure that your anti-virus software did not 'silently 'remove any files when you downloaded XAMPP as well.

Alternatively, you could use WAMP for local installation as suggested by misty.

I downloaded the Xampp 1.4.16 (25 mb) to a C:\zencart dir

You download XAMPP to anywhere on your PC. Make sure it's the .exe version. XAMPP will then install without problems. Your install of Zen Cart you then put inside a folder in your xampp/htdocs folder.

I think you've been trying to install xampp in your Zen Cart folder - the wrong way around.

Vger