Hello, I'm not sure that I should really be posting this problem here. It was all going so well - I had just changed my navigation and footer into cms:embed and then I started to get these intermittent errors with my local server. There is no pattern to the error - any of the pages of my website can seem to cause it. This makes me think it is purely a XAMPP / Apache / PHP problem - which fills my heart with dread!

So before I continue googling this problem or installing the latest version of XAMPP in the hope it will go away, I thought I'd see if anyone here has ever had a similar problem. I have XAMPP 1.7.4 on Windows XP.

The error is:

Apache HTTP Server has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

Error signature: AppName: httpd.exe AppVer: 2.2.17.0 ModName: php5ts.dll ModVer 5.3.5.0 Offset: 000846f1

If I end up upgrading to XAMPP 1.7.7 it means I will have to try out using gen_dump.php - I assume I can restore my data onto a new installation of MySQL on localhost?

[KK]

It appears to be purely an XAMPP problem.
Something, I am afraid, we can't help you much about.

You may try using WampServer (it is a recommendation) instead.
You can easily migrate your site to the new installation using gen_dump.

I'll take your advice KK and go with a WampServer ...
thanks

[KK]

Since you happen to be on a Windows machine - if it is a Couch based project you are working on, why don't you use the portable version of Couch available at http://www.couchcms.com/products/ (you'll have to scroll to the bottom)?

It is tried and tested. More ever, it will save you the hassle of installing Ioncube, Couch etc. (everything comes bundled in).