Installing XAMPP. Connecting phpMyAdmin

Does it actually show config errors or is it failing to show them?

I don't know. From what you tell I don't assume you did anything in the config file, but it sounds familiar to me.
Xampp always had that kind of lesson in its setup, that you actually have to look into the php.ini, httpd.conf, and other configuration files to make some initial configuration and make yourself familiar with those files, too. An error by design - so to say - that XAMPP does not simply work out of the box.

And, last not least, it would be most helpful if you would mention the version of XAMPP you installed and on which platform. XAMPP is addressing all major platforms of Linux, Mac, and Windows. There isn't just the latest version of it, too. That all makes it impossible to simply try to reproduce the problem and find a fix for it.

Chriss

Thanks,
I downloaded a different XAMPP installation file and the error message doesnt appear anymore.-