10061 Error

Am baffled, have page that calls one of 2 databases depending on the link clicked. One works, the other doesn't - error log states:
Can't connect to MySQL server on 'localhost' (10061)

System: XP SP2
MySql server 4.1.12a-nt (as service)
Apache 2
Php 5.0.4

All is done on localhost,
dbdetail is an expanded version with lots of extra data
dbshort is a bare bones list of information

Using http://localhost/dbindex.htm with links to detail.php/short.php to display data from MySql.

working code:
$mod = $_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'];
$user = "xxx";
$password = "xxx";
$database = "dbdetail";
mysql_connect("localhost",$user,$password);
@mysql_select_db($database) or die("Unable to select database");
$query="SELECT * FROM dwgs WHERE model='$mod'";
$result = mysql_query($query);

non-working code: (causes service crash)
$hstname = "localhost"; #added after having problems
$user="xxx";
$password="xxx";
$database="dbshort";
mysql_connect($hstname,$user,$password);
@mysql_select_db($database) or die("Unable to select database");

Why will the same code work in one php file and not the other,
I can query the tables with MySql browser and Access,
run MySql Admin maintenance to be sure tables are intact -
have gone bald pulling my hair out over this

Suggestions PLEASE

Can you clarify "causes service crash"?

Is there an error message? Does MySQL itself crash?
Or just your PHP script...

MySql server crashes with the dialog box asking to send data to MicroS.