when I try to store information in the mysql DB from a webpage the data is not bing stored or recalled correctly. For example in phpMyAdmin if I change a password I cannot log back in with that password. I think this has to do with the default character set. I did have to run kbd-config when I first started up the vmware image. Is there an equivalent change that has to be made with apache or mysql?
Did you reload the mysql server or at least the mysql permission table after you changed the password?
Does the old password still work? In that case you need to restart MySQL or run a Code: FLUSH PRIVILEGES;