I am unable to load PhpMyAdmin in my browser using a clean, default-options, unchanged install of XAMPP version 1.7.3 on Windows XP Pro SP3. C:\XAMPP is the root directory. My firewall and on-access scanner was disabled for the whole process.
I can access the localhost/XAMPP start screen. But I cannot go to any PhpMyAdmin page, neither by the sidebar link to PhpMyAdmin on the XAMPP start page, nor by typing http://localhost/phpmyadmin into my browser's address bar. Nothing is shown - the browser tries endlessly to load the page. I get no password prompt, nothing.
After installation I started Apache and MySQL from the XAMPP control panel. Both are shown there to be running. Most of (but not all) the Demo links in the XAMPP localhost index page sidebar apparently work.
I have not installed any server previously in this Operating System. I have not altered the username (root) and password ([none given]). In fact I have not edited any XAMPP file manually whatsoever.
I have not altered XP's Hosts file or knowingly done anything to cause this.
I have indeed searched the forums. No suggestion to other posters has worked for me.
Any ideas about what's causing this? Help greatly appreciated!