apache tomcat5 service won't start in services.msc on windows server

What do the event logs say? You say they're useless but can you post the messages?

Also: post your catalina.out file - there you would see any startup errors. Like the port being use for example when you have another (web)service running on the configured Tomcat port.

btw i noticed something strange, when i try to increase memory above 1024mb for in tomcat5w.exe it will not start the service in services.msc, so it appears there is a hard limit hardcoded in tomcat5, but on my 32 bit version of server 2008 standard it lets me do 1620mb... even though i copied the whole tomcat folder from the 32bit server folder to the 64bit server folder, so the files are exactly the same, yet with the exact same tomcat version im able to set 1620mb in one computer but only 1024mb on another machine.

so right now on the machine im trying to get it working i can only go up to 1024mb, any higher wont start. this machine has 16gb ram

Did you see my request? Refresh?

You are aware that tomcat5 is rather old. (Current version is 9.0.7 or 8.0.50 or even a 7.0.85)  and java has been updated in the mean time as well. (And there were good reasons to for these updates).

>> one computer but only 1024mb on another machine.
What is this about computers? Are you migrating? What are you trying to achieve exactly?

okay there is something wierd I figured out, if I set it to anything at or below 1024 mb it works and the services start in services.msc on window server all versions.
but if I set it to anything more, even at 1025mb, it will not start up, UNLESS I do exact multiples of 24, like 1024, 1048, 1072 etc... this holds until it reaches a limit...

On a windows server 2008 32bit that only has 4GB total, the limit is around ~1600-ish but suprisingly on a windows server 2008 r2 64bit with tons of memory, the limit was only around ~1200

This is the exact same tomcat5.exe and tomcat5w.exe and installed as service with exact same way... so it makes no sense whatsoever....

Why does memory increase past the 1024mb mark need to be in precise 24 mb increments?
and why is there a different "wall", with the LOWER spec'd machine able to reach much higher (1600mb) than the higher spec'd one with more ram (~1200)

I read something about JVM needing contingious memory but this is just nuts and doesn't make any sense whatsoever

1024mb (1024 milli bit) is not a lot of room.... MB (Mega Byte is probably meant). (10 orders of magnitude difference).

On 64b systems there is a need for extra code to emulate the 32b code interfaces. Which might limit the amount you can use.
Did you try to install a modern java engine (java 9?) + tomcat on the 64b architecture?