MySQL and Vista

[merb]

I'm trying to help someone set up their own server and their PC is running Vista. For MySQL, I get the MySQL Essentials, install it with the default (Typical) setting. At the end, the box is checked to configure the server, but it doesn't run. When I try to manually run it, it says "The application failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect" and no matter what else I download or how I modify/repair it, it always says that. I've unblocked it, taken down the firewall, everything, any ideas?