i have been using xampp for 5 years. my version is current as to just a few months ago. i use it for sql, php programs, perl programs and access local dev websites by their tld and not through the 127.0.0.1 loopback nor through localhost (in the browser's address bar) and for lots of other purposes. so, i am familiar with the program and mine is highly customized but i do not know everyhting there is to know.
what i do know,
bonnie is correct; you cannot do the auto install thang nor can you do automatic updates. i think that out of the box this is intented not only to protect users but the xampp ppl try hard to protect the internet as a whole and not release a product that is easily capable of jerking around the internet. however, one who is more adept should be able to update the LWP and allow it to connect out. i think that is the modual that is killing the process. i personally do not place a great value on this feature/function and don't have the time to hammer out the issue.
easiest way is to first sync with your live site. download your webpages and supporting images and scripts to your local public root via
ftp. maintain folder path structure. then update your "live" store with all current file releases that you need. then making sure all files are transferred in the appropriate mode (binary or ascii) while you download your store folder. or better yet if you know how zip, tgz, gz or tar your store folder on the remote server then do that and download the compressed file in binary and unpack in your local htdocs or public_html or however you have the local server set up. log into your local store manager and change the store urls. all http urls must be changed to your local system's setup and remember that any local customized files that deal with urls and/or paths must be updated to the remote method of doing things. this is why i use xampp to deliver websites with the TLD and not the loopback ip or localhost... it's more portable that way and makes for less mistakes.
you will also have to adjust your mail paths for the local store or you wont be able to add to cart locally.
there will be other settings and customizations in the store or in the local server you'll have to consider but it gets pretty complicated.
i started a tutorial in the gold member's group but have been too busy to finish and nobody has hollered for me to finish. you interested? if you join the gold member's group and hammer on me i will do my best to help and finish the tutorial.
probably the most important thing to make stuff a great deal less difficult is to be able to immulate the disk path of your remote server (necessry for some programs) and to be able to call your website by name
http://www.TLD on your local server. saves tons of time and allows for more dev instead of figuring out which file you uploaded that has local only stuff in it that broke your store.
d
oh yeah. are you sure you can run executables? have you set up your httpd filde correctly so you can run agoracart?