Index: win_installer/src/installer.nsi
===================================================================
diff -u -r868bbd9bfe10d9096894c0a90b112decdf83d399 -r2fd7cb23324fa9eb48545e299de5e3d8b3b12bbb
--- win_installer/src/installer.nsi	(.../installer.nsi)	(revision 868bbd9bfe10d9096894c0a90b112decdf83d399)
+++ win_installer/src/installer.nsi	(.../installer.nsi)	(revision 2fd7cb23324fa9eb48545e299de5e3d8b3b12bbb)
@@ -401,15 +401,23 @@
     !insertmacro MUI_INSTALLOPTIONS_READ $DB_USER "mysql.ini" "Field 9" "State"
     !insertmacro MUI_INSTALLOPTIONS_READ $DB_PASS "mysql.ini" "Field 10" "State"
     
+    
+    
+    
     # check mysql version is 5.0.x
     nsExec::ExecToStack '$MYSQL_DIR\bin\mysqladmin --version'
     Pop $0
     Pop $1
+    ${If} $1 == "" ; if mySQL install directory field is empty, do not continue
+       MessageBox MB_OK|MB_ICONSTOP "Your MySQL directory does not appear to be valid, please enter a valid MySQL directory before continuing.$\r$\n$\r$\n$1"
+       Abort
+    ${EndIf}
     ${StrStr} $0 $1 "5.0"
     ${If} $0 == "" ; if not 5.0.x, check 5.1.x
         ${StrStr} $0 $1 "5.1"
         ${If} $0 == ""
             MessageBox MB_OK|MB_ICONSTOP "Your MySQL version does not appear to be compatible with LAMS (5.0.x or 5.1.x): $\r$\n$\r$\n$1"
+            Abort
         ${EndIf}
     ${EndIf}