possibly the wrong section but is apache compatable with 2k8? if so there must be some services that need to be stopped or dissabled? apache loads in failes on password auth for the sql and will not start when installed. i know in xp its because iis is running if installed but i dissabled this also in 2k8. any ideas?

Apache and mysql runs fine on both Windows Server 2008 Core and full installation. Apache and MySql needs to be correctly configured, so check you ini-files and the MySql-configuration for username and password, port-related errors and such.