This section of the httpd.conf file is the way apache sets up the base access privilages to the disk/drive that apache is installed onto.
Now of course the base access to the apache drive should be NO ACCESS AT ALL.
So your old httpd.conf file had been incorrectly messed with.
BEWARE, THERE IS A LOT A BADLY INFORMED ADVICE OUT THERE ON THE INTERNET
The process of opening up folders that Apache and therefore its clients (the outside world) can see and either read or write to should be done from within the Virtual Hosts setup for each of yor projects
See
THE NEED FOR VIRTUAL HOSTS---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Windows 10 Pro 64bit) (Wampserver 3.3.4 64bit) Aestan Tray Menu 3.2.5.4
<Apache versions MULTIPE> <PHP versions MULTIPLE> <MySQL Versions MULTIPLE>
<MariaDB versions MULTIPLE> <phpMyAdmin versions MULTIPLE> <MySQL Workbench 8.0.23>Read The Manuals Apache --
MySQL --
PHP --
phpMyAdminGet your Apache/MySQL/mariaDB/PHP ADDONs here from the
WAMPServer alternate Repo-X-X-X-
Backup your databases regularly Here is How dont regret it later! Yes even when developing -X-X-X-