the version compare script in concrete5 uses python. Frankly its more of a cute demo feature than a useful one in the big picture so i don't think your experience will suffer much without it.

mysql you do need to connect to. We've heard that having special characters in your connection string causes errors, perhaps thats the issue.

Thank you for that, so its ok to continue without doing anything to the negative test part.

I will try to set up another Mysql database and see what happens. Thank you.

unfortunately whatever I do it will not work. I have a Mysql database set up and all the details entered and yet it still says it cannot connect to database and so therefore cannot install concrete 5.
Any advice, I am spending days trying to do this.

I had the same issue

Call your provider
The have to disable the PHP save mode

(well that is in my case there policy)

hope this helps

unfortunately whatever I do it will not work. I have a Mysql database set up and all the details entered and yet it still says it cannot connect to database and so therefore cannot install concrete 5.
Any advice, I am spending days trying to do this.

Having the same problem and about 20 suggested solutions and 50 Google pages further, I still have the same problem. I have a local install of Xamplite and several cms active like Joomla and Modx.
The last is a great CMS and installed within 1 minute on my remote server without any guru ict sql abracadabra.
I would realy love to try Concrete5 but for me it realy is not so concrete at all...

I managed to load it and get going successfully. I downloaded Filezilla and did it through my FTP Account on my CPanel in the end. Took me ages to work that out by using Forums etc. BUT I will say once in my public html and usable it is a brilliant piece of kit. I had tried Joomla etc and that was hard work. So C5 is very easy.

I now find I am trying to add the phpBB for a Forum and hitting a wall again.
Persever if you can with C5 its worth it. i know a lot more than I used to but I still have oh so very much to learn. OBVIOUSLY!

Hope you get your sorted.