i tried both this one: [color=blue]<html> <body> <?php $con = mysql_connect("localhost","root","password"); if (!$con) { die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error()); } ?> </body> </html> [/color] and this one as connection.php, like you suggested [color=red] <?php session_start(); $database_host = "localhost"; $database_username = "root"; $database_password = "password"; $database_name = ""; $connection = mysql_connect($database_host, $database_username, $database_password) or die(mysql_error()); $db = mysql_select_db($database_name, $connection); ?> [/color] neither worked, both gave the same error message- where can i go to find my username, host and other info