I don't insist on being right, I'm just decribing what I see.

I tried it with your httpd-2.2.17-ssl-x86.zip on clean XP SP3. When I try to start httpd.exe from command line, it produces "The system cannot execute the specified program." and quits.
Event log under System lists three errors:
SideBySide event 32:
Dependent Assembly Microsoft.VC90.CRT could not be found and Last Error was The referenced assembly is not installed on your system.
SideBySide event 59:
Resolve Partial Assembly failed for Microsoft.VC90.CRT.
Reference error message: The referenced assembly is not installed on your system.
SideBySide event 59:
Generate Activation Context failed for c:\Apache22\bin\httpd.exe.
Reference error message: The operation completed successfully.
Process Monitor from Sysinternals does not catch any attempt to access msvc?90.dll in any location by any process (I have them in C:\Apache22\bin\).
But csrss.exe, right after httpd.exe is started, sniffs in following locations:
"CreateFile","C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\Policies\x86_Policy.9.0.Microsoft.VC90.CRT_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_x-ww_b7353f75","NAME NOT FOUND"
"CreateFile","C:\WINDOWS\assembly\GAC\Policy.9.0.Microsoft.VC90.CRT","NAME NOT FOUND"
"QueryOpen","C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\Manifests\x86_Microsoft.VC90.CRT_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.21022.8_x-ww_d08d0375.Manifest","NAME NOT FOUND"
"QueryOpen","C:\WINDOWS\assembly\GAC\Microsoft.VC90.CRT\9.0.21022.8__1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b\Microsoft.VC90.CRT.DLL","PATH NOT FOUND"
"QueryOpen","C:\Apache22\bin\Microsoft.VC90.CRT.DLL","NAME NOT FOUND"
"QueryOpen","C:\Apache22\bin\Microsoft.VC90.CRT.MANIFEST","NAME NOT FOUND"
"QueryOpen","C:\Apache22\bin\Microsoft.VC90.CRT\Microsoft.VC90.CRT.DLL","PATH NOT FOUND"
"QueryOpen","C:\Apache22\bin\Microsoft.VC90.CRT\Microsoft.VC90.CRT.MANIFEST","PATH NOT FOUND"