PHP is a static apache module, apache v. 1.3.1



The error message is:
Warning: U??f?4WVS? in system.php on line 8
         ^^^^^^^^^^!!!!!!!!!!
Warning: 0 is not a MySQL link index in system.php on line 9
Cannot select database. 

the script is (comments left for explicit line numbers):
<?  
#  SecureVar("Sec_.*");
#  SecureVar("HOST.*");
#  SecureVar("SERVER.*");
#  $mail="gergo@dlux.rulez.org ";


  $conn=mysql_connect('anna.argent.hu');
  if(!mysql_select_db("cdabcd",$conn)){echo ("Cannot select database.\n");}
?>
The mysql server is v. 3.21.33, works properly. The database cdabcd exists. The error is the same if I give mysql username/password, with single quotes, double quotes as well. it is also the same with mysql_pconnect.
Ooops, it works with 
mysql_pconnect('127.0.0.1'); /I have just found it.../
But, my nameservice works, the /etc/hosts file is OK.

And a PHP2 incompatibility:
securevar() is not implemented (?)