mysqli -vs.- mysql

[run.exe]

I apologize if this thread has been posted in the wrong forum...

I am running MySQL v5.0.15 in conjunction with PHP v5.0.5 and vBulletin v3.5.1 (on a Windows 2003/SP1 Server with Apache v2.0.54).

Although my board functions (re: PHP) perfectly when I specify "mysql" in my vBulletin configuration, it will not even load when I specify "mysqli."

I have satisfied all prerequisite requirements:

- having php_mysqli.dll and libmysqli.dll in their proper locations
- ensuring that php.ini specifies both of the aforesaid modules/libraries
- recycling my Apache2 service after any/all edits to my vBulletin and/or php.ini configurations
- http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/mysqli

Specifically, I wish to use mysqli because a number of my forums are members-only (paid subscription) links to external (non-vB main) MySQL databases. Since upgrading to PHP5, authentication to said databses appears to have been broken - regardless of the MySQL syntax used (all of the below were tried without success):

- mysql_connect
- mysql_pconnect
- mysqli_connect

I suspect/hope that using mysqli may fix my authentication issues, per new syntax/deprecated MySQL commands.


Output of AdminCP-->Maintenance-->Execute SQL Query--> follows, below:


SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'char%'





When I edit the following line in includes/config.php a white/blank screen is displayed in my browser window; when I revert "mysqli" back to "mysql," the forum loads, once more:

$config['Database']['dbtype'] = 'mysqli';




Anyone...?

Any/all help will (as ever) be most appreciated.

Thank you, in advance.