Computer Issue - "View Posts" not working in an apache, php, mysql, phpmyadmin, wordpress local environment...Dammit!

Computer Issue --- Irritation = Frustration

OK...here's my sad stupid story that changing one line in a setting file (either php.ini, httpd.conf, .htaccess or index.php) will probably make work... 

• Apache Server installed on C:/Program Files (x86)/ and works. It works!
• PHP 5.2.13 installed, working and talking to apache...
• MySQL (mysql-essential-5.1.49-winx64.msi - since I have 64-bit windows 7) installed, working and script showed that all 3 are working and communicating with each other.
• phpmyadmin 3.3.4 installed...works (the only issue is this warning: "Your PHP MySQL library version 5.0.51a differs from your MySQL server version 5.1.49. This may cause unpredictable behavior" - I believe it's from my php having an older libmysql.dll than the current version of mysql - don't think this would cause a problem).
• OK so far
• So I want to get wordpress on my local server to work on development and learning without paying a hosting fee...this is supposed to be trivial.
• I install wordpress...I can log in...I get to the dashboard...I can create posts - do basically anything in the dashboard...
• BUT
• the only thing not working is that when I click "View Post" I get this error message in the apache error log:
• [Sun Aug 29 10:04:36 2010] [error] [client 127.0.0.1] PHP Warning: require(./wordpress/wp-blog-header.php) [function.require]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Apache Software Foundation\\Apache2.2\\htdocs\\wordpress\\index.php on line 17, referer: http://localhost/wordpress/2010/08/29/testing-4/
• [Sun Aug 29 10:04:36 2010] [error] [client 127.0.0.1] PHP Fatal error: require() [function.require]: Failed opening required './wordpress/wp-blog-header.php' (include_path='.;C:\\php\\pear') in C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Apache Software Foundation\\Apache2.2\\htdocs\\wordpress\\index.php on line 17, referer: http://localhost/wordpress/2010/08/29/testing-4/
• Now I check these paths, and they exist (as far as I can tell!)...this is what's on line 17:
  require('./wordpress/wp-blog-header.php'); I've tried different variations on the path and get the same result.

I go to phpmyadmin and check the wordpress database, and the posts exist - they are there! But they won't show!!! Which makes learning and development rather difficult!

*** SIGH ****

I have spent far too much time on this and seem to be getting nowhere...I guess I'll have to reinstall everything (apache, php, mysql, phpmyadmin, wordpress) and try again...but, I've done this already a few times and this is the furthest I've gone yet, and it seems it's a path error in a setting somewhere...which should do the trick...

I've only gotten back into the computing world the past couple of months after a couple of years not doing much -- and I'm LOVING IT!!! But, man it can be frustrating! If anyone has any help I'll kiss you all over!! (or not)...
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