[RESOLVED] Trying to install MySQL for the first time - help!

conniegoss

I'm a complete newbie to MySQL. Have been using PHP 5 for some time, and tried to install MySQL 5 today. Actually I think I did install it successfully, but how the heck to I run it? The instructions I found online say to open the command window and run c:\mysql\bin\mysqld-nt.exe --console . But my installation named the path differently, and I can't get to it from the command window. In fact, I can't even SEE it with a dir *. command, although it does show up in Windows explorer. What do I do?

tomhath

You can see it in Windows Explorer? What happens when you cd to that directory and run just "mysqld-nt.exe --console" ? There's nothing in Start->Programs either?

The other possibility is that it was installed as a service? Try looking at the Services running on your machine.

conniegoss

I cannot "cd" to the directory, if you mean from DOS / CMD . It's as if the directory does not exist. It does not appear when I run a DIR. I can only see it in explorer.

I did try your suggestion to use Run from the start button. I had some luck there - I could navigate to mysqld-nt and stick the --console parameter on it, and it did run, but the console part didn't really happen. I saw a black DOS window flash on the screen and then it disappeared.

I'm not sure how to check my Windows services, but I did check the Processes under Task Manager and I see mysqld-nt.exe listed there - is that what you mean?

Thanks so much for your help.

tomhath

Try Control Panel -> Administrative Tools, you should see Services there.

If it's installed as a service and you know the login/password you might be okay. Try searching for mysql.exe and mysql.ini in Explorer.

Or you could just uninstall it and try again, paying more attention to the options. Won't hurt anything to uninstall/reinstall a few times until you're comfortable with what you have.

conniegoss

I did as you suggested, but I downloaded version 4 this time. It installed smoothly and I can run it from my start menu. Thanks!