Install prob – step 2 frozen

Hi,

Have recently downloaded wordpress. I have installed my own local web server etc and am seeking to setup wordpress here first before sticking it on my internet space.

I am able to runthe install up to step 2. step 2 successfully creates tables in the database and poplates those tables. but in the browser the page is stopped at the message of populating the tables. No password is provided to me and consequemtly I cannot log in.

I opened MyphpAdmin and added an extra user to the users table directly to get me in but on logging in to wordpress it said no — i couldn’t come in.

Any ideas on what is happening? How long must I wait at step 2? is the password in the users table an md5 hash or password()?

I am an IT developer PHP/Javascript aware but would prefer a solution to the problem rather than have to hack it out myself.

thanks..

Aviador