config php w/ mysql

I got mysql installed on my win2000 machine, and have apache running with php 4 all working correctly. but I can't get php to work with the db... I'm pretty sure I can connect with mysql_connect(...) because it doesn't die at that spot. rather, when I try to do the mysql_query(...) it dies each time. how do I have to configure mysql or php to get them to communicate correctly? I know my query is correct because I can run it in mySQLGUI just fine... any clues? thanks in advance, Darrell (oh, and I'm on w2k only because I need to be...not by preference!)