Can't Install Joomla

Either MySQL isn't set up properly and running, or you have the wrong password.  Can you confirm that you can sign onto the MySQL database with the username of root and the password you have provided?

To BillBach,

Sure, but I have no clue how to do that.

Can I do that from XAMPP? How?

Whew.  It's been a REALLY long time.  You can go to the XAMPP control panel, find the line for MySQL, and click "Admin".  This should launch an admin console.  Login should be the credentials you were using.  If not, then you were using the wrong credentials.  

If you don't remember the credentials, then it is time to remove XAMPP and reinstall it.  Be sure to write down each user/password as you go.

Doing what you suggested takes you to phpmyadmin.

The database is there.

I am TOTALLY confused on how to configure the UserID & password; there seems to be NO WAY to do that. I set up this database in the phpmyadmin db with a users & in the user table (of phpmyadmin) set the password. That appears to be unconnected to the db in question

Now I see your problem.  Do NOT create the database ahead of time!  The Joomla installation will create the database with the name you provide it on this screen.  The password is asks for is for the MySQL administrative access so that it can create the database.  

Because it is possible to have multiple web sites hosted on a single server, I would recommend creating a new database with the name of the site.  For example, if you are creating a Joomla install for SiteA, call the database SiteA.  That way, if you decide to add a new site, or if you decide to redeploy with a new set of templates and want to start fresh, you can create the next database as SiteB, SiteC, and so on.

To BillBach,

OK, maybe that's a step. How do I find the MySQL admin password?

When I installed XAMPP, it did everything & didn't tell me about any passwords.

FYI, the Joomla for Dummies says I have to create the databse BEFORE I install Joomla. Page 27 in case you have it. They assume GoDaddy.

Installing Joomla is one of the most difficult things I've ever tried to do & I've been doing computers, databases, etc. for a LOOOOOOOOOOOG time.

All I'm try to do now is teach myself how to use Joomla on my own computer without having to do everything on a web server.

@BillBach, this is the second time for this question.  The original problem was that the version of Joomla would not install without a password for the MySQL user and the XAMPP install does not set a password for 'root' but phpMyAdmin does use 'root' without a password.  The sequence of setting a password for 'root' and getting phpMyAdmin to come back failed on @rkorts previous try and I wasn't able to walk him thru getting it to work.

To BillBach,

OK, I've tried the following:

(1) went into mysql.ini & found a line called password = xxx commented out. I put in the password I wanted to use & uncommented it, saved the file.

(2) Made sure the database joomladb did NOT exist.

(3) Went through the Joomla install. It fails (as it always does) on step 4. See attached.

(4) I tried 3 with both "root" & "admin" as user. Same result.

(5) In looking at the text on the right, it is not clear if the database needs to have been created BEFORE or AFTER the Joomla install.

(5) Created a database in MySQL called joomladb.

(6) Tried it again; exact same result (as attached).

Any ideas?
install-error2.jpg

Did you restart MySQL (or the entire server) after you changed the INI file?  Honestly, I don't recall what I did to set this up originally.  I did my first XAMPP/Joomla 1.x install by following the directions provided.  I do seem to recall that there was a separate step for securing the database, now that you mention it, but I am not sure what that was.  A quick inquiry to Professor Google provided several useful hits, like this one:
    http://www.devshed.com/c/a/Administration/Install-XAMPP-on-Windows/1/

On my own server, I did find a batch file in the E:\xampp\mysql directory called resetroot.bat, which purports to reset the root password.  Not sure if that works until AFTER you go through the other steps, but both may be viable options for you.

To All,

I found the solution. It is:

(1) Create a new mySQL database to use for joomla (I called it joomladb).

(2) Use "root" as the user name.

(3) Leave the password blank. This is apparently the key.

Doing this, it goes right through, I now have it installed.

Thanks,

rkorts

The points are awarded for EFFORT. Solution found using another method; I had to pay,