[PHPOpenChat-Users] red box: Sorry, an error occurred.

my set up is:
centos 6 server 64 bit
# rpm -q mysql
mysql-5.1.73-5.el6_6.x86_64
# rpm -q php
php-5.3.3-46.el6_6.x86_64
phpopenchat-3.0.2

I've been through the install process for phpopenchat but I keep
getting a red box that says 'Sorry, an error occurred'. and nothing
works. I've tried to install both using install.php (doesn't work - I
get a blank white page after step 1)) and by editing config.inc
(doesn't work, even though I get all greens on test.php). The install
guide that comes with the tarball isn't very good, it's vague. I've
searched on google and I can't see a step by step install guide for
beginners to phpopenchat. Is there one?