php_mysql.dll fails to load

I sent this message to 3 lists just hoping I would get some help. I just
hope I am not upsetting anybody with it!

I have apache2, mysql  4.0.21 and php 5.0.2.on xp pro.

All works fine up to the point where I enable the php_mysql.dll module
in php.ini. I followed the instructions and copied libmysql.dll to
c:\windows, also modified the "extension_dir" to point to
c:\sqlphp\php\ext which works fine as the error message I get shows the
proper path for php_mysql.dll file. Also, I checked it out to see if the
file is there and it is indeed in that directory.


Here is the error message:
---------------------
PHP Warning:  PHP Startup: Unable to load dynamic library
'c:\sqlphp\php\ext\php_mysql.dll' The specified module could not be
found. In Unknown on line 0
---------------------

So far, I did a search on the internet and other people who had the same
problem seem to say that by moving libmysql.dll and php_mysql.dll to
\windows or \windows\system32 the problem would be sorted. Unfortunately
for me, tried it and it doesn't work, i get the same message. I even
tried to register the dlls manually using regsrv32 and even that failed.

By the way, I get this message when I start php from the command line. I
had to disable apache2 as it falls over as soon as it tries to load the
php module which in turn tries to load the php_mysql.dll module. Also,
Apache2 reports the same error before crashing, so for the time being I
disabled the service.

I would appreciate any help on this issue as it's starting to drive me mad.

Many thanks
alex

--
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.

It appears as if the "php_mysql.dll"  module has problems loading the
"libmysql.dll" file.
Setting the PHP dir to the system path var did NOT work for me.

However, these options did:
a) copy the bundled libmysql.dll to the windows system32 folder.
b) OR, copy the bundled libmysql.dll to apache's BIN folder.
c) OR, copy the bundled libmysql.dll to apache's root folder.

I'm currently using option C, but I would prefer not having to copy DLL
files across my system. Has anyone found a better solution?

My Server:
* Microsoft WindowsXP SP2
* MySQL 4.0.21
* apache 2.0.52
* PHP 5.0.2

It appears as if the "php_mysql.dll"  module has problems loading the
"libmysql.dll" file.
Setting the PHP dir to the system %path% var did NOT work for me.

However, these options did:
a) copy the bundled libmysql.dll to the windows system32 folder.
b) OR, copy the bundled libmysql.dll to apache's BIN folder.
c) OR, copy the bundled libmysql.dll to apache's root folder.

I'm currently using option C, but I would prefer not having to copy DLL
files across my system. Has anyone found a better solution?

My Server Includes:
* Microsoft WindowsXP SP2
* MySQL 4.0.21
* apache 2.0.52
* PHP 5.0.2