error 1064 when trying to import database

[zillabuggs]

I am very new to this sort of thing and hope someone can help me out as my site has now been down for 3 days.  I have upgraded my wordpress installation to version 3.3.2  I am having a problem uploading my database.  I keep getting an error message as follows:

 

ERROR: Unknown Punctuation String @ 1

STR: <?

SQL: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>

<!-- This is a WordPress eXtended RSS file generated by WordPress as an export of your site. -->

<!-- It contains information about your site's posts, pages, comments, categories, and other content. -->

<!-- You may use this file to transfer that content from one site to another. -->

<!-- This file is not intended to serve as a complete backup of your site. -->

 

MySQL said:

 

#1064 - You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>

<!<!<!<!

<!<!<!<!<!<!<!<!<!<!<!

<!<rss v' at line 1

 

This is what the manual says for error 1064 •Error: 1064 SQLSTATE: 42000 (ER_PARSE_ERROR)

Message: %s near '%s' at line %d

 

What does this mean and how do I rectify it?

 

Thanks in advance

 

[zillabuggs]

My SQL version is 5.0.91-log. 

[sunfighter]

<? is not used anymore. Use the full correct method of starting php

<?php

[Jessica]

<? is not used anymore. Use the full correct method of starting php

<?php

That has absolutely nothing to do with this question - especially since the code in question is XML, not PHP.

 

How are you importing the database? It looks as if you're giving it an XML file and it's expecting raw sql.

[fenway]

Sounds like a quoting issue.