xampp's mysql

I want to try drupal again locally. This artical gives good introduction for the installation: http://drupal.org/node/307956.

XAMPP's installation is ok. When I run it, I can see that I have started both Apache and MySql. However, when I run "http://localhost/phpmyadmin.", I got the error page "#1045 – Access denied for user ‘pma’@'localhost’ (using password: NO)".

Wasted me so much time, and then I realized that:

1) The MySql coming with XAMPP does not start actually. I had one old MySql installed long time ago in my computer, and it got started (as a Window service) every time when I click the start button on XAMPP panel.

Solution: I stop the service, and go to XAMPP directory and click directly the file "C:\xampp\mysql_start.bat" to start the correct MySql of XAMPP. Now I can see that "MySQL database" is in "ACTIVATED" status on the "XAMPP Status" page.

2) Check the configuration file: "C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin\config.inc.php". If you have set up a new password for root user, you need to change the values of both entires in this file. Suppose that the password is "1234", you need to change the following. In the beginning, I just changed the first one, and it did not work.

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['password'] = '1234';

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controlpass'] = '1234';

Now the "phpMyAdmin" can be used!