need search capabilities

I need search capabilities for mysql database.

Every tutorial I've worked through so far have been terrible. The final completed script never works - full of: "syntax error, unexpected T_STRING" errors.

I'm using the latest version of XAMPP-basic-installer on my computer. I want to be able to test my php scripts locally before going live on my Web server.

This script found here:

http://codewalkers.com/seecode/43.html

produced an immediate error:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '<' in Crogram Filesxampphtdocstestsearchit.php on line 3

Line 3: <form method="post" action="result.php3">

Heaven only knows what it'll trip up on next if it gets stuck on just the opening line.

Here's what I want to do:
Database - david
table - contacts
fields - id, first, last, phone, cell, fax, email, web

I want a script that puts an input field on an html or php page so that I can type a person's last name in and it will spit out all information (fields) that matched the results of the input field from my database (david) from table (contacts) on an html or php page.

Impossible?

Thanks,

David P

Here's another problem with another search script:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_VARIABLE in Crogram Filesxampphtdocstesttest2searchscript.php on line 22

Line 22 - $limit=10;

I'm beginning to wonder if whether or not a php / mysql database search script that actually works even exist.