I wasn't sure whether to put this in Computers or Programming, but since it's related to actually starting the MySQL service on my computer, I thought it should go here.
Basically, I followed the instructions here:
http://www.analysisandsolutions.com/code/mybasic.htm
to set up the MySQL software/server on my (this) computer. The service is started now, but when I try to log on using:
mysql -u -P 3350 root mysql (to tighten security as shown in Step 13 of the above link)
nothing happens.
When I try to log on using:
mysql -u root -p (and enter the correct password)
I get "ERROR 2003 (HY000): Can't connect to MySQL server on 'localhost' (10061)." This means there is something wrong with "my.cnf" which contains all the paths needed.
What follows is the configuration stuff from "my.cnf":
[mysqld-5.0]
port = 3350
basedir = C:/Program Files/mysql50/
datadir = C:/Documents and Settings/ben/desktop/mysql50/data/
innodb_data_home_dir = C:/Documents and Settings/ben/desktop/mysql50/ibdata/
innodb_log_group_home_dir = C:/Documents and Settings/ben/desktop/mysql50/iblogs/
innodb_data_file_path = ibdata1:10M:autoextend
# Make table names case sensitive.
# Ensures portability when moving applications to other os's.
set-variable = lower_case_table_names=0
I thank you all for any help you can provide.