ok, so i'm wondering if i want to start my own phpBB, what sort of things (mySQL and PHP) do I have to install first? because I uploaded the latest stable phpBB and when i went to install it it said it couldn't find the database.

please help, as I'm pretty much illiterate in this subject.... i read a book on mySQL, but it didn't really help with this particular issue.

Did you try the phpBB documentation? Assuming you're installing on Windows, all you really need to do for the database is download and run the MySQL install file, accept the defaults and setup a database username/password. From there you go through the phpBB setup and give it the username/password for your database. The phpBB installation script should then create your database for you.

It should be pretty straightforward really. Getting stuff like sending emails working will probably be a bit trickier, but getting the base install in place should not be a problem.

if u plan on using PHP and MySQL try using the xampp package it has both programs rolled in one as well as the web server so there are no compatibility issues