PHP unpredictable with connection to MySql

Can someone please help me? I am running Apache 2 with mysql 4.1 and php 4.3.9 on windows xp home. I have altered the apache config files as well as the php ini files I am able to successfully run php scripts from my localhost. I also have successfully installed MySql (knowing this as I can create tables and such) However my problem is when I am using php to try and connect to mysql, nothing is happening at all. The explorer window is blank. Even when I am using tutorial scripts for beginners One of the sources is at http://www.freewebmasterhelp.com/tutorials/phpmysql/2) and still does not seem to be connecting. But I also successfully installed and ran phpbb 2.0.11, and that has both ran and connected with mysql without a problem so this makes me think that I have configured everything properly. But whenever I am manually typing my scripts or even copying and pasting them to connect with MySql absolutely nothing happens. So I have no idea what to do or how to fix it. The same problem has even occured when I have tried using Apache 1.33. I would appreciate any help anyone could give me as I am a beginner to all of these programmes. Thanks in advance Sincerely Jamie