I already have PHP 4.3.11 working and MySQL 4.1.12a-nt working on my Windows 2003 server and have a couple of sucessfull installtions of phpBB and ZenCart on diffrent websites I host.

Now I am trying to get PhpMyAdmin 2.6.3-pl1 working for the first time but am getting the following error:

cannot load mysqli extension;
please check PHP configuration
Documentation - When I click the documentation link it shows:

[1.20] I receive the error "cannot load MySQL extension, please check PHP Configuration". To connect to a MySQL server, PHP needs a set of MySQL functions called "MySQL extension". This extension may be part of the PHP distribution (compiled-in), otherwise it needs to be loaded dynamically. Its name is probably mysql.so or php_mysql.dll. phpMyAdmin tried to load the extension but failed.

QUESTIONS:
1. If MySQL and PHP are working why would I need the extension enabled?

2. Also neither mysql.so or php_mysql.dll are listed with the other extensions in the php.ini file. Is the php.ini file the the correct place to enable that extension?

I placed a PHP TEST here if that helps: http://www.mcedigital.com/phptest.php

Thanks
Jody

1- Because PhpMyAdmin request to find the extension enabled to work
2- In PHP.INI (i'm come back to visit yous homepage) you haven't installed "php_mysqli.dll"
You must edit PHP.INI, find le locaton of "php_mysqli.dll" and simply decomment the line
deleting the initial character ";"

So .... restart the server to see it the new configuration !

Bye !!!

None of these exisit in the php.ini

extension=php_mssql.dll - not needed as I am not using Microsoft SQL
extension=php_mysql.dll
extension=php_mysqli.dll

are you saying all I need to do is simply add the text to the PHP.ini, reboot the server and that is it?

Thanks

1 - Don't understand what you are trying to say here

2. php_mysqli.dll is not listed in the php.in to decomment.

You must not be looking at the php.ini

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
; Dynamic Extensions ;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;
; If you wish to have an extension loaded automatically, use the following
; syntax:
;
; extension=modulename.extension
;
; For example, on Windows:
;
; extension=msql.dll
;
; ... or under UNIX:
;
; extension=msql.so

Look for that section of text and below it will be a large number of extensions most with a ";" semicolon in front (making them unavailable) if you don't have these then you definately have something bad wrong with your install. With Windows servers I believe that the php.ini is in the Windows folder either system or system32. I am not sure how the install goes with a Windows 2003 Server but it should be similar to IIs or PWS on other Windows.

I DO have a bunch of extensions in the php.ini. What I am trying to say it the php_mysql1.dll is not one of them.

You have an old version of MySQL which by the phpinfo link I noticed that you are running 3.23.49 which might be the reason that you don't have those extensions, why don't you upgrade it also. Since there are not those extension even available then you could try going ahead and entering them, with the worst being that it still won't work. I noticed you are using PHP 4.3.11 and it would seem that those extensions should have been there,

You might want to dheck your phpmyadmin/config.inc.php at these values

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['host']          = 'localhost';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['user']          = 'root';      

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['password']      = ''; 

If you have not changed the root to use a password then these are defualt, if you have then phpMyAdmin can not connect so then enter the password in that file and you should be OK.

Hi I am having this problem too and was just wondering if you ever managed to get it resolved as I really need the help. Thanks

Donal

I doubt he did....

The extensions that need to be loaded are either (or both):

extension=php_mysql.dll
extension=php_mysqli.dll

1 - Don't understand what you are trying to say here

PHPMyAdmin looks to see if the extension mysql is loaded before it does anything. It's a form of error catching. If it's not found it asks you to fix it. So you just need to uncomment that extension from the PHP.ini file. Obviously you found this because you have mysql running as per your phpinfo file.

2. php_mysqli.dll is not listed in the php.in to decomment.

Okay, so add it. As long as the dll is inside the extensions folder, you can add it and leave it uncommented. It's not an issue.

@:
What is your problem, that it's saying that you need to load the extension? Or that the extension you want to enable are not listed in the php.ini?

Basically both. I am getting the error message "cannot load MySQL extension, please check PHP Configuration". When I checked the php.ini file the extension php_mysqli.dll was not listed so I added it in myself. But it still made no difference.

I am using MySql 4.1 maybe I should try and update it to the newest version. Its just the book I am working with suggested to stick to 4.1

thanks for the help.

That is because you need to actually have the extensions dll file located somewhere and tell php where it is. But even with an older version of PHP you should have the extenstions either in the php/ext folder or if newer the php/extension folder search for your php folder on your machine and within it there should be an ext folder in it and it should have many .dll all preceeded by php_ then something like php_mysql.dll that is where they live.
I changed my mind just get XAMPP or WAMP or MAMP (if using MAC) and be done with it .

Try adding the path to php to the Windows Environment path, then restart Apache (and possibly Windows). That should work.

Right-click "My Computer" --> Properties
Advanced tab --> Environment Variables button
Look for PATH and at the very end add this:
;C:\php (or whatever your PHP path is)

tried that too and still no luck. what way does XAMPP work? Is it just all the programs in one package?

really appreciate the help. thanks.

XAMPP is a software that comes with the very latest stable versions of Apache, MySQL, PHP, phpMyAdmin, Perl and even a mailserver as well as an FTP server. You simply download it (it is about 20+meg) run the install and start using it. After download the install takes about 3-5 minutes and you have a webserver with PHP and MySQL up and running. WAMP does the same thing but unlike XAMPP you have the option of using either PHP 4 or PHP 5 by using a switch program, I have been using it since at least 2003 and when I see an upgrade just download and install the new version.

cool. I will give it a go and let you know how i get on.

This is the only way to get rid of the XAMPP message after a fresh install "Cannot load mysql extension. Please check your PHP configuration. - Documentation." All the post are incorrect in saying you have to remove the ";" from the php_mysql extension. By default on a XAMPP install those extension are enabled in the php.ini file. I have ran into this on every XAMPP installation I used. The fix is upgrading the version of PHP. I renamed the php folder under XAMPP php_old, downloaded PHP 5.x.x but did not install. Don't use the .exe use just the files and then copied them over to the XAMPP installation. For some reason the XAMPP package is having trouble with the version 4 of PHP. Good luck.