There is a major problem with the libmysql.dll library that is included with the XAMPP 1.7.0 Win32 package. The packaged dll can be used with the native MySQL functions, but will cause Apache to crash if at any time you use the query() method in an instance of a PDO object that touches at least one MySQL database. Someone posted a "fix" for this here http://www.netfulvpc.fr/phptechnoframe/trucs-et-astuces/xampp-17#comment-176; however, while this may work for PDO this in turn uses a different version of libmysql than is used with MySQL (I didn't notice this until I tried to use phpMyAdmin).
In general I will never use both PDO and the MySQL functions in the same project, let alone the same script. However, I should be able to use either one anytime I damn well please.
Again, AS PACKAGED in the installer, apparently the libmysql.dll will work for the MySQL functions but will cause Apache to CRASH when you are using PDO with a MySQL driver.
I don't want to have to shut down my server, swap out the libmysql.dll files, and restart the server depending on however I choose to interface with MySQL.
Has anyone else had this very same issue with XAMPP 1.7.0 on Windows?