Installation issue - XAMPP on WinXP

I'm trying to install PP on XAMPP using the instructions on the site.

I press next on Step 3, the page goes blank for a while, then a new page comes up on the URL "http://localhost/projectpier/public/install/index.php?step=4"

and this is the only line that displays on the page:

"Database connection has been established successfully InnoDB storage engine is supported"

I mean, it's nice to know, but it's not what I expected.

I never get passed this. It never asks me to create an administrator account. If I go back to the root page of PP, it sends me back to the install page, saying that PP isn't installed.

the script never finishes creating the tables. I always end up with a different number of tables successfully (I imagine) created.

Anyone heard about this?

PHP 5.2.5
MySQL 5.0.51a

Thanks,