Thanks for that, RiggsFolly. The db that I'm most concerned about is INNODB. Installing the 5.1.36 version of mysql restored access, or at least got me further than I was getting before, but a new glitch has been revealed. I suspect that the password fields in the db may have got screwed up.
The db is a recipe storage and retrieval utility, accessed via an html/php site. When starting the site I get the message:
Warning: mysql_connect() [function.mysql-connect]: Access denied for user 'test'@'localhost' (using password: YES) in C:\wamp\www\recipe\main.inc.php on line 3
The first 3 lines of main.inc.php are:
1) <?php
2)
3) $con = mysql_connect("localhost", "test", "test"
or die('Sorry, could not connect to server');
[The smiley face is not mine, that should be a ), it is when it leaves here!]
I last accessed this site (which is purely local, on my PC). about 3 months ago, it was working ok, so the username/password test/test should be good.