Configure PHP to work with MySQL and phpMyAdmin - php

Question

My purpose is to setup a forum in php just locally on my Windows 7 machine to test how it works.
I have installed Apache HTTP Server and PHP v5 successfully. Then I downloaded and extracted the phpbb-forum software and put it in my root folder. Then I realized that I needed some kind of database so I downloaded and installed MySQL. To configure my database I also downloaded and extracted phpMyAdmin but I can't get it to work. When I open my browser and navigate to my phpMyAdmin-folder I simply get this:
Screenshot: http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5139/captureqb.png
I use my Apache server to preview my website where I'm using some php include functions so I know that I've a "working" PHP installation. The MySQL service is also running on my computer.
However, do you need to configure PHP and/or Apache in order to get phpMyAdmin to work properly? I'm a complete noob on this so I suppose it may be multiple shortcomings.
Thank you.. //Realiserad

Answer 1

The simpler way is to install WAMP server : it bundle Apache, PHP, MySQL and PHPMyAdmin preconficurated for work together.

Answer 2

You need to enable the MySQL extension to use MySQL from PHP.
The MySQL extension may or may not be bundled with your PHP distribution. (look for php_mysql.dll in the ext folder)
Assuming it's installed you can enable it by adding or uncommenting this line in your php.ini:
extension=php_mysql.dll
As other people have said it may be simpler to install WAMP Server

Answer 3

Have a look at: http://www.ricocheting.com/how-to-install-on-windows/mysql - Specifically, the 3rd step. It involves downloading the mySQL PHP Extention (which is a dll), and un-commenting a line of php.ini so that PHP Load's the extension.
While is may be simpler to install XAMPP or WAMP, I think that it's good to know how to fix your own problems - Scientia potentia est :D

Answer 4

not very familiar with windows, but it seems like you miss the php-mysql extension, which you can download from here (i think):
http://mysql2.mirrors-r-us.net/downloads/connector/php/index.html
would be alot easier for you to use a preconfigured wamp install like this one (available for win/mac/etc). google "xampp", i'm not allowed to post more than one link due to stackoverflows spam protection.

Answer 5

Configure PHP to Access MySQL
Open the c:\php\php.ini file with your favorite text editor.
Uncomment the following lines by removing the semicolon:
extension=php_mysqli.dll
extension=php_mbstring.dll
extension=php_mcrypt.dll
save and exit editor
After extracting the archive into phpmyadmin folder, you will have to configure phpmyadmin before you can connect to sql server.
you should create a configuration file. This file can be created manually (simply use a text editor),
During your first session you will see an error message.
To solve this problem you should create folder (C:\project\wwwroot\phpmyadmin\config). After that give full rights for IIS_IUSRS group and IUSR user.granting permission/image
Return to the config window. Visit localhost/phpmyadmin/setup/
To configure the connection settings click on the “New Server” button.
Enter the verbose name of the SQL server, and then the server hostname. If necessary, you can specify other settings.[setting up/image][2]
Save the settings and then the server will redirect us to the previous page. Choose:
the default language – English
the default server – 127.0.0.1
end of the line – Windows (\ r \ n)
Click Save, and then download. The received file (config.inc.php) you should save to the root directory (C:\project\wwwroot\phpmyadmin).
Open the authorization window (//localhost/phpmyadmin/) and login under root account. If you see a starting phpMyAdmin window, you can delete config folder.
For the correct work phpMyAdmin requires a database with the information. The script for creating database is already installed.