Getting mysql on my laptop

Hi, I am currently developing some software for a project in college. I need to encorporate a database into this project so i tried to install mysql onto my laptop.

It all worked out ok but i have not got the same results as the computers in college have. There is no traffic lights in the system tray. I am a beginner with all databases and all but i need to know that it is installed properly.

The version that i currently have installed is MySQL 4.1. Is this the correct version for my needs.

 

You don't need the traffic lights icon. That's a sort of management console, which doesn't need to be opened. If you want to know if it's running just open the task manager to the processes tab and if you see "mysqld-nt.exe" it's running. Which means you can just start using it. I believe the default install sets the main accoutn up as root with no password. or it might be root:root.