Before you installed C5, was the XAMPP installation working OK to serve other pages? Static HTML or a php echo 'hello world' ?

I believe so. The XAMPP C Pad says its connected ok. Both MYSQL and Apache are running. However, I get the following error messages at top of install page if this helps:

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::database() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 23

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\loader.php on line 164

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\loader.php on line 165

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\loader.php on line 166

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\loader.php on line 167

Strict Standards: Declaration of dbTable::create() should be compatible with that of dbObject::create() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\3rdparty\adodb\adodb-xmlschema03.inc.php on line 642

Strict Standards: Declaration of dbIndex::create() should be compatible with that of dbObject::create() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\3rdparty\adodb\adodb-xmlschema03.inc.php on line 806

Strict Standards: Declaration of dbData::create() should be compatible with that of dbObject::create() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\3rdparty\adodb\adodb-xmlschema03.inc.php on line 1051

Strict Standards: Declaration of dbQuerySet::create() should be compatible with that of dbObject::create() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\3rdparty\adodb\adodb-xmlschema03.inc.php on line 1302

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\loader.php on line 168

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 26

Strict Standards: Non-static method Cache::startup() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 27

Strict Standards: Non-static method Cache::getLibrary() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\cache.php on line 64

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\cache.php on line 28

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 30

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 31

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 32

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 33

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 34

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 35

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 36

Strict Standards: Declaration of DatabaseItemList::sortBy() should be compatible with that of ItemList::sortBy() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\item_list.php on line 8

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 37

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 38

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 39

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 40

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 41

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 42

Strict Standards: Declaration of BlockController::setupAndRun() should be compatible with that of Controller::setupAndRun() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\block_controller.php on line 391

Strict Standards: Declaration of BlockController::get() should be compatible with that of Controller::get() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\block_controller.php on line 391

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 43

Strict Standards: Declaration of AttributeTypeView::action() should be compatible with that of View::action() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\attribute\view.php on line 124

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::library() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 44

Strict Standards: Declaration of AttributeTypeController::setupAndRun() should be compatible with that of Controller::setupAndRun() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\attribute\controller.php on line 173

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 52

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 53

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 54

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 55

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 56

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 57

Strict Standards: Declaration of PendingAttributeType::getList() should be compatible with that of AttributeType::getList() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\models\attribute\type.php on line 243

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 58

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 59

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 60

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\models\file.php on line 3

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 61

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 62

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 63

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 64

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 65

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\models\collection_types.php on line 25

Strict Standards: Declaration of CollectionAttributeKey::getList() should be compatible with that of AttributeKey::getList() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\models\attribute\categories\collection.php on line 147

Strict Standards: Declaration of CollectionAttributeKey::add() should be compatible with that of AttributeKey::add() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\models\attribute\categories\collection.php on line 147

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 66

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 67

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 68

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 69

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 70

Strict Standards: Declaration of Page::add() should be compatible with that of Collection::add() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\models\page.php on line 2421

Strict Standards: Declaration of Page::duplicate() should be compatible with that of Collection::duplicate() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\models\page.php on line 2421

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 71

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 72

Strict Standards: Declaration of ComposerPage::getByID() should be compatible with that of Page::getByID() in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\models\composer_page.php on line 164

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\models\composer_page.php on line 11

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 73

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 74

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 75

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::model() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\dispatcher.php on line 76

Strict Standards: Non-static method View::getInstance() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\config\theme_paths.php on line 4

Warning: session_start() [function.session-start]: Cannot send session cookie - headers already sent by (output started at E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\item_list.php:8) in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\startup\session.php on line 22

Warning: session_start() [function.session-start]: Cannot send session cache limiter - headers already sent (output started at E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\item_list.php:8) in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\startup\session.php on line 22

Strict Standards: Non-static method View::getInstance() should not be called statically in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\startup\config_check_complete.php on line 6

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::controller() should not be called statically, assuming $this from incompatible context in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\view.php on line 604

Strict Standards: Non-static method Loader::db() should not be called statically, assuming $this from incompatible context in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\loader.php on line 375

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\item_list.php:8) in E:\xampp\htdocs\concrete\libraries\view.php on line 791

There are those on the other side of the Atlantic who know much more than me of these issues, but they have not woken up yet.

You obviously have all the php warnings and diagnostics turned on
;-)

My suspicion is that you have installed the very latest version of XAMPP with a the very latest version of PHP, and that disagrees with C5.

You could run phpinfo. Create a file at the same level as your C5 installation, call it anything.php.

Then run it from the web browser
/localhost/anything.php

This will give you the low down on what php thinks of your server environment, what php version is running, and test that everything up to the C5 install is working.

(Stop me if I am telling you stuff you already know)

Thank you for your help... as you can see I know very little web dev stuff as I am a web designer (HTML & CSS are about my skill level). The book does say to use XAMPP lite but I couldn't get it to work which could be an issue caused by using Vista (although I have disabled the UAC). Do you think that might be a cause of the issue as I have followed all the steps of the book. I can always re-install XAMPP lite and try going through it all again. If not I will look to see if anyone else are having issues with the latest XAMPP and C5.

I wouldn't know about vista - I use a mix of XP and Linux for my development systems.

Before doing anything so drastic, run the script I posted. It may be something simple and a complete reinstall would be a bit of an overkill.

I just checked XAMPP and you are using php 5.3.8

On the forums, C5 5.4.2.1 appears to be OK with this:
http://www.concrete5.org/community/forums/installation/concrete-5-4...

However, at least one other has had similar problems to you:
http://www.concrete5.org/community/forums/installation/php-5-3-8-er...