Hi, I am following the step by step instructions on setting up MySQL from a book I just bought. I am stuckon "testing your MySQL Installation"

here are the steps
1. open a DOS window.
2. at the promt, type cd:\mysql\bin and press enter
3. at the promt type mysqld--standalone and press Enter. The MySQL process will now be running in the background. You can now connect to MySQL and create databases and tables

Ok so here is my problem.
When I get to step 3and type
mysqld--standalone I get this message

'mysqld--standalone' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

So then I tried mysqld --standalone and I got this message

Can't initialize InnoDB as 'innodb_data_file_path' is not set

I am stuck here and cannot continue with the lesson. Can anyone help me.
thanks
kim

I forgot to mention that I am running windows 2000.