2002 error mysql no configured

[a2stepper]

had xampp working great, then installed flash builder 4.5 for php and went bad. uninstalled flash builder 4.5.

when i try to open mysqladmin i keep getting this error 2002
the server is not responding.
or the local mysql server's socket is not correctly configured.

i really would like to get this working again.

i did to uninstall and reinstall xampp but same error.

please help.
paul