The Apache service fails to start. Corresponding entry in the application log: "The Apache service named reported the following error: >>> DocumentRoot must be a directory . " However, one is able to start the service manually after login into Windows, using the same httpd.conf The directive Apache is complaining about looks like this: DocumentRoot //Tiny/vboxsrv/www/htdocs/ or like that: DocumentRoot "//Tiny/vboxsrv/www/htdocs/" Windows, however, cannot resolve this URI for Apache before its Browser service has started. Therefore the Apache service depends on Browser service, really. And Apache's error message in the application log is misleading, to say the least. Workaround: On Windows use "regedt32" ("regedit" won't work!) and add "Browser" to the value "DependOnService" in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Apache2.2\
I don't think Apache service depends on Browser service since not all Apache httpd users use Windows Network.
(In reply to comment #1) > I don't think Apache service depends on Browser service since not all Apache > httpd users use Windows Network. > Strange logic: Then we wouldn't even need an Apache service under Windows, since not all httpd users will start Apache automatically during boot time. And there is no mentioning in the docs or the httpd.conf itself that Windows network should not be used when starting Apache as a service during boot time. I am just suggesting to add the "Browser" dependency per default at installation time and all cases (network - no network) would be handled "out of the box" without fiddling around with the registry. Or we put something up in the docs like: "Windows network not supported when using Apache as a service." Right now it's a real and really time wasting bug.
The right answer doesn't seem to be adding the Browser service, in fact there are no Windows services which depend upon that service starting. It would be interesting to know which mechanism most windows services do use when they have external file system references. Commenting so this bug falls into my filtered list of bugs I'm pondering.
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