Error 2013: Lost connection to MySQL server during query

[Diamondback]

I have MySQL 4.1.10 running successfully on an office XP machine, but
when I try to set up similar XP box at home I continually get this
error: "Error 2013: Lost connection to MySQL server during query".
The install went fine, and Windows XP is recognizing it as a running
service. But whenever I try to connect via one of my GUI applications
(e.g., MySQLFront), the error appears.

I have scoured this forum and Google looking for this error, but
haven't found anything helpful so far. This post ...
(http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?11,10684,10684) seemed similar, but
my service does not stop when I hit the error.

I've lost a couple days to this problem, and I've uninstalled and
reinstalled the app several times. I don't know where to go next. I
need to have 4.1 running because we need the Unions and Subqueries.
Any help is appreciated.