Still can’t get install.php to execute

You’ve started Apache and MySQL in XAMPP, right? Just checking ??
Where are you clicking on install.php?

Entering localhost/wp-admin/install.php (or similar if you use a different alias for localhost) into your browser’s address field should start the process.

Just checked and see that Apache has stopped. Restarted it and it shut down again. Here’s the error log:

[Thu Aug 11 15:07:33.868208 2022] [ssl:warn] [pid 18600:tid 444] AH01909: www.example.com:443:0 server certificate does NOT include an ID which matches the server name
[Thu Aug 11 15:07:33.958484 2022] [ssl:warn] [pid 18600:tid 444] AH01909: www.example.com:443:0 server certificate does NOT include an ID which matches the server name
[Thu Aug 11 15:07:33.994221 2022] [mpm_winnt:notice] [pid 18600:tid 444] AH00455: Apache/2.4.53 (Win64) OpenSSL/1.1.1n PHP/7.4.29 configured -- resuming normal operations
[Thu Aug 11 15:07:33.994716 2022] [mpm_winnt:notice] [pid 18600:tid 444] AH00456: Apache Lounge VC15 Server built: Mar 16 2022 15:48:38
[Thu Aug 11 15:07:33.994716 2022] [core:notice] [pid 18600:tid 444] AH00094: Command line: 'S:\\XAMPP\\apache\\bin\\httpd.exe -d S:/XAMPP/apache'
[Thu Aug 11 15:07:34.001633 2022] [mpm_winnt:notice] [pid 18600:tid 444] AH00418: Parent: Created child process 36716
[Thu Aug 11 15:07:35.366625 2022] [ssl:warn] [pid 36716:tid 428] AH01909: www.example.com:443:0 server certificate does NOT include an ID which matches the server name
[Thu Aug 11 15:07:35.455409 2022] [ssl:warn] [pid 36716:tid 428] AH01909: www.example.com:443:0 server certificate does NOT include an ID which matches the server name
[Thu Aug 11 15:07:35.499594 2022] [mpm_winnt:notice] [pid 36716:tid 428] AH00354: Child: Starting 150 worker threads.

I fixed that problem, but it wasn’t the cause. Checking the access.log I see

::1 - - [12/Aug/2022:02:27:25 +1000] "OPTIONS /ROOT/subscription%3ANTEventLogEventConsumer.Name%3D%22SCM%20Event%20Log%20Consumer%22 HTTP/1.1" 200 - "-" "Microsoft-WebDAV-MiniRedir/10.0.19043"
::1 - - [12/Aug/2022:02:27:25 +1000] "PROPFIND /ROOT/subscription%3ANTEventLogEventConsumer.Name%3D%22SCM%20Event%20Log%20Consumer%22 HTTP/1.1" 405 320 "-" "Microsoft-WebDAV-MiniRedir/10.0.19043"
::1 - - [12/Aug/2022:02:27:25 +1000] "PROPFIND /ROOT HTTP/1.1" 405 320 "-" "Microsoft-WebDAV-MiniRedir/10.0.19043"

Unfortunately, that doesn’t explain to me why it stops as soon as it starts. There’s nothing in the error log.

Making an unsupported PROPFIND request shouldn’t cause Apache to stop running. No other clues in the control panel’s startup log? I recommend asking for help over at Apache Friends forums where those more familiar with XAMPP can help you.
https://community.apachefriends.org/f/

You should check the Windows event viewer for Apache-related messages.

You should also change the Apache Listen directive(s) to only listen to 127.0.0.1:80, and 127.0.0.1:443 if your localhost setup supports SSL. That will stop Windows applications from making HTTP requests to ::1 (the IPv6 version of 127.0.0.1). Example:

Listen 127.0.0.1:80
<IfModule ssl_module>
    Listen 127.0.0.1:443
</IfModule>

Thanks for all the responses. I did go to the Apache forum and now have Apache remaining open. However, I still can’t get .php to execute is, so e in the same way as a .html. All I see is a PHP code displayed in the browser. I’ve tried different browsers and Firefox says that PHP isn’t running, even though Apache is running. I need to go back to the Apache forum.

Turns out I should have used localhost for the install. I distinctly recall being able to execute PHP code from File Explorer. At least I now know where I went wrong.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.