MySQL Forums :: Perl :: Error 10061: connect to MySQL server failed

I hope this is a good place to ask about this------
Trying to install active perl to use with MySQL 5.5.9. Perl looks good--at least the 'hello world' script works.
Not so with the script to test the connect. Script lines 3 and 4 are:

$dbh = DBI->connect('dbi:mysql:perltest','root','password')
or die "Connection Error: $DBI::errstr\n";

When I run the script C:\perlscripts\my-sql-test.pl from its folder, I see:

DBI connect('perltest', 'root', ...) failed: Can't connect to MySQL server on 'localhost' (1006) at C:\perlscripts\my-sql-test.pl line 3

This seems to be a prevalent problem, but I've seen no remedy that works for me. Suspecting "pilot error" here, but I can't see it. BTW, I'm following the About.com tutorial and its CREATE and perl scripts:
http://perl.about.com/od/perltutorials/a/perlmysql.htm
Any advice before I give up?
thanks...~jess