Fixing MySQL Server 5.0.51a Installation on Vista

There is nothing worse than trying to install something and it blows up. Well, yes, having to HACK it to get it to work is far worse.....but you have to do it to get MySQL Server 5.0.51a to install on a 32-bit version of Vista (I hear it is a problem on 64-bit Vista also).

To install MySQL Server 5.0.51a in Vista
1. Disable the UAC in Windows Control Panel->User Accounts
2. Use mysql-essential-5.0.51a-win32.msi
3. In the final step uncheck "Configure MySQL Server now"
4. Download and run Resource Hacker http://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/
5. Open ...\MySQL Server 5.0\bin\MySQLInstanceConfig.exe with Resource Hacker
6. Navigate to 24\1\1033
7. Change

to

8. Press "Compile script"
9. Exit Resource Hacker and save the result (overwrite the initial MySQLInstanceConfig.exe)
10. Now MySQLInstanceConfig.exe should start normally.
11. Configure the server.
12. Sometimes the server doesn't start:
a) Check Windows Firewall settings (3306/TCP)
b) Try changing the compability mode for the file ...\MySQL Server 5.0\bin\mysqld-nt.exe to Windows XP-SP2.
13. That's all.