How to stop changes to httpd.conf

what is your OS ?

My development environment is WinXP, running XAMP apache/mysql.
PHPR modifies my C:\xampp\apache\conf\httpd.conf file and I want to stop that.

on tray ikon stop all services

Do you mean stop XAMPP services by using the XAMPP control panel accessed in the tray?
I don't want to stop XAMPP, but are you suggesting that if I stop XAMPP while I update PHPR, create new projects, or change output directories that PHPR won't change my XAMPP config?
Hmmmm. Is that the only way? Isn't there a neat little tickbox someplace within PHPR? Reading through the forums over the past few years, someone suggested a few years ago that such as option was going to be added, but I can't find it. As Sergey suggested back then (from my less than perfect memory), PHPR makes a backup copy of the httpd.conf file and you can always restore that. Its not a big deal. Thxs

Yes, there is a backup file named httpd.bak. No, there is no tick box to turn this off.
We have plans to make XAMPP/Apache interaction more customizable however there is not firm release date for this option yet.