Single User Database – Multiple Installs on Local Host

Good Morning!

I am using localhost for development and testing. I am using multiple installs, and need to have a single and common user database for all the various installs.

I have gone through various tutorials and guidance on wordpress codex with regard to Using same Datatbase, same user, same salts, and a different Table Prefix for each install. I have also followed the Custom User Table and Custom User Meta Tables as per guidelines. – Followed tutorials step by step several times over, but its not working.

– When I do a first fresh install, i copy the wp-config.php into the next site and change table prefx, and define the custom tables. – Upon install of that next site, wordpress tells me User(s) exist. – I try to login, and it says please provide a valid username. I don’t know what to do next.

I am using XAMPP on my PC – locally.

I hope I am not wasting your time with this query, but It will be very helpful to know what I need to do.

[Most tutorials and videos in relation to this issue, prepare me to deal with – user role management, by using orphangae extended plugin or going into the database and copying the capabilities for each user, but this message of username not valid and the 2nd wordpress just not installing into its own directory is just confusing me]

Thank You.
Anand Gurnani