Help -- mysql server's socket not properly configured

[vgould]

Hello,

I have loaded xampp, but when I startup then go to localhost Status it says MySQL database is deactivated.

When I go to phpMyAdmin I get MySQL said #2002 - The server is not responding ( or the local MySQL server's socket is not correctly configured).

I've checked my.cnf and php.ini and all the settings are correct.

Any ideas how this can be fixed?

Thanks,

Vincent