graeme_p - 9:50 am on May 11, 2010 (gmt 0)

I take it that means you installed Apache etc from the repositories (apt-get or synaptic)?. If not I would uninstall and re-install from the repos.

I would try webmin, or just use the command line: you are used to Mepis, you might as well stick to it.
Webmin instructions here: [webmin.com ]

As far as help goes, remember most advice for Debian applies to Mepis - especially for server stuff.

Do you have to have Apache? I have done PHP MySQL development using Cherokee and PHP FastCGI . Of course your server config will be different, but PHP and MySQL remain the same.

The nice thing about Cherokee is that it comes with a web admin interface. You have to start it from the command line, but you change the config in the browser.