Is it possible to connect to/use a MySQL database without first connecting to the server/without the MySQL server running?

Hello blurry,

If it's possible I don't know how. However, the data is stored inside files on your HDD, so if you are able to actually open and read the files somehow, you may, I suppose.

Well I'm frustrated because I want to create an app with a database that would reside on a local drive on the user's computer. I know I could do it with MS VB and MS Access, but for my own reasons I would like to use Java and MySQL. The only problem is I don't want to use a server and it seems to me that MySQL databases can only be accessed thru the MySQL server while it is running. I want to know if there is a way around that, if I can access MySQL databases without connecting to the server first, because my app doesn't require a server.

Oh, this is embarrasing... I understood your request in the wrong context. In this situation, I think you have the following options:

The Embedded MySQL Server Library.
SQLite: a self-contained, embeddable, zero-configuration SQL database engine.

Tell us if they are suitable for what it is that you're trying to do...