Is this happening for everyone?

[tallerin]

Also, this new setup doesn't assume you have mysql installed on "C:\mysql" does it? When trying to make the connection? Because I have it installed on my second drive as "F:\Mysql"

I don't think it matters were it is installed as long as you point the eqemu server to the right port Mysql is listening on it should connect to your DB.

Also as mentioned before by cavedude and I ( cavedude was more clear then i) use port 3306 not 5999 for your database. I changed the port on my .xml and i get the same error as you so i believe if that port was changed your world would connect to your Database.

with this new setup, is the start up routine world.exe, eqlaunch.exe, zone.exe? Is that right? and where does minilogin come into play now?

This is my server startup sequence (note i don't use the launcher yet) minilogin world.exe zone.exe so i guess if you have the launcher set up to load say 20 static zones you would go minilogin World.exe Launcher.exe