No Apache errors being written to logs.

[jlanpheer]

Hi-
I've been running MAMP (currently 6.6) for a couple of years on my own computer (Apple Mac - Monterrey 12.6.6) using localhost without issue. I've deployed a couple of sites including a brand new one and i've been working to get SSL working on localhost with Wordpress so when i push up changes i don't have to change "http://" to "https://". As near as i can tell, i've successfully generated a certificate, and i don't think that is the issue here. As near as i can tell, i've made no changes to my MAMP installation, but MAMP will no longer start successfully.

I get the following error when attempting to start my Apache server:
"Apache couldn't be started. Please check your MAMP installation and configuration."

Fair enough, i have done so and don't think i've actually made any changes to the configuration. I'm using port 8888 for Apache and PHP version 7.4.21. A major hindrance is that i have no idea how to debug what is happening. I do have an apache_error.log file in my logs directory of my installation, but when i get the above error, nothing is being written to it that would help me pin the problem down. All port references in my httpd.conf and /extras/httpd-ssl.conf file are to port 8888. (Side note: i've specified port 3306 for mysql and in my logs directory, entries ARE being written to mysql_error.log indicating that it is ready to receive connections - i.e. no apparent errors).

httpd.conf ->
Listen 8888
ServerName localhost:8888

httpd-ssl.conf ->
Listen 8888
<VirtualHost _default_:8888>
ServerName localhost:8888
SSLCertificateFile "/Users/MyName/ssl/server.crt" (verified the file is in this location)
SSLCertificateKeyFile "/Users/MyName/ssl/server.key" (verified the file is in this location)

I also understand that one of the reasons that Apache may not start is due to the port being in use. I have used the following command below and see no evidence that is the case:
lsof -nP -iTCP -sTCP:LISTEN | grep 8888

I'm assuming that somehow the certificate might be the issue, but i have no way of proving it. My roadblock to solving this is that NOTHING is written to any log that i can see. Can anyone point out something that might be causing apache logs to not be written to? Any suggestions of things i can try to debug?
thanks very much!

[mampsupportmod]

Did you try without SSL enabled?
Did you try using default ports? 443 and 80?
Try uninstalling/re-installing MAMP if possible, could be a permissions issue.

[jlanpheer]

Yes, i tried without SSL enabled.
Yes, i tried using a variety of ports, including the default ones.
No, i have not uninstalled/reinstalled.

I will try that. Still, my question remains. Should there not be some sort of message in a log somewhere indicating exactly what the problem is? Is this an indication of some sort of config issue if i'm getting this "I Can't Get Started" message and no details or anything useful in the logs? I'm a little baffled by the scarcity of feedback.

[mampsupportmod]

Yes, i tried without SSL enabled.
Yes, i tried using a variety of ports, including the default ones.
No, i have not uninstalled/reinstalled.

I will try that. Still, my question remains. Should there not be some sort of message in a log somewhere indicating exactly what the problem is? Is this an indication of some sort of config issue if i'm getting this "I Can't Get Started" message and no details or anything useful in the logs? I'm a little baffled by the scarcity of feedback.

Not if its not starting at the system level