diff --git a/mysql-test/r/information_schema.result b/mysql-test/r/information_schema.result
index dc456e80e63..1c3525c1508 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/information_schema.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/information_schema.result
@@ -118,8 +118,8 @@ t2
 t3
 show table status;
 Name	Engine	Version	Row_format	Rows	Avg_row_length	Data_length	Max_data_length	Index_length	Data_free	Auto_increment	Create_time	Update_time	Check_time	Collation	Checksum	Create_options	Comment
-t2	MyISAM	9	Fixed	0	0	0	#	1024	0	NULL	#	#	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t3	MyISAM	9	Fixed	0	0	0	#	1024	0	NULL	#	#	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t2	MyISAM	10	Fixed	0	0	0	#	1024	0	NULL	#	#	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t3	MyISAM	10	Fixed	0	0	0	#	1024	0	NULL	#	#	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
 v1	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	view
 show full columns from t3 like "a%";
 Field	Type	Collation	Null	Key	Default	Extra	Privileges	Comment
@@ -432,7 +432,6 @@ information_schema.tables) union select version from
 information_schema.tables;
 s1
 0
-9
 10
 drop table t1;
 SHOW CREATE TABLE INFORMATION_SCHEMA.character_sets;
diff --git a/mysql-test/r/ndb_autodiscover.result b/mysql-test/r/ndb_autodiscover.result
index 38b34579f03..27ebda36669 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/ndb_autodiscover.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/ndb_autodiscover.result
@@ -144,8 +144,8 @@ Handler_discover	1
 flush tables;
 show table status;
 Name	Engine	Version	Row_format	Rows	Avg_row_length	Data_length	Max_data_length	Index_length	Data_free	Auto_increment	Create_time	Update_time	Check_time	Collation	Checksum	Create_options	Comment
-t6	MyISAM	9	Fixed	1	260	#	#	#	0	NULL	#	#	NULL	#	NULL		#
-t7	ndbcluster	9	Fixed	1	276	#	#	#	0	NULL	#	#	NULL	#	NULL		#
+t6	MyISAM	10	Fixed	1	260	#	#	#	0	NULL	#	#	NULL	#	NULL		#
+t7	ndbcluster	10	Fixed	1	276	#	#	#	0	NULL	#	#	NULL	#	NULL		#
 show status like 'handler_discover%';
 Variable_name	Value
 Handler_discover	2
diff --git a/mysql-test/r/ps_1general.result b/mysql-test/r/ps_1general.result
index cd3c8e162f7..342b3e3ef06 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/ps_1general.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/ps_1general.result
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ t2	1	t2_idx	1	b	A	NULL	NULL	NULL	YES	BTREE
 prepare stmt4 from ' show table status from test like ''t2%'' ';
 execute stmt4;
 Name	Engine	Version	Row_format	Rows	Avg_row_length	Data_length	Max_data_length	Index_length	Data_free	Auto_increment	Create_time	Update_time	Check_time	Collation	Checksum	Create_options	Comment
-t2	MyISAM	9	Fixed	0	0	0	64424509439	1024	0	NULL	#	#	#	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t2	MyISAM	10	Fixed	0	0	0	64424509439	1024	0	NULL	#	#	#	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
 prepare stmt4 from ' show table status from test like ''t9%'' ';
 execute stmt4;
 Name	Engine	Version	Row_format	Rows	Avg_row_length	Data_length	Max_data_length	Index_length	Data_free	Auto_increment	Create_time	Update_time	Check_time	Collation	Checksum	Create_options	Comment
diff --git a/mysql-test/r/show_check.result b/mysql-test/r/show_check.result
index 15cae7646f9..7c34481b519 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/show_check.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/show_check.result
@@ -315,57 +315,57 @@ insert into t2 values (1),(2);
 insert into t3 values (1,1),(2,2);
 show table status;
 Name	Engine	Version	Row_format	Rows	Avg_row_length	Data_length	Max_data_length	Index_length	Data_free	Auto_increment	Create_time	Update_time	Check_time	Collation	Checksum	Create_options	Comment
-t1	MEMORY	9	Fixed	2	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t2	MEMORY	9	Fixed	2	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t3	MEMORY	9	Fixed	2	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t1	MEMORY	10	Fixed	2	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t2	MEMORY	10	Fixed	2	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t3	MEMORY	10	Fixed	2	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
 insert into t1 values (3),(4);
 insert into t2 values (3),(4);
 insert into t3 values (3,3),(4,4);
 show table status;
 Name	Engine	Version	Row_format	Rows	Avg_row_length	Data_length	Max_data_length	Index_length	Data_free	Auto_increment	Create_time	Update_time	Check_time	Collation	Checksum	Create_options	Comment
-t1	MEMORY	9	Fixed	4	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t2	MEMORY	9	Fixed	4	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t3	MEMORY	9	Fixed	4	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t1	MEMORY	10	Fixed	4	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t2	MEMORY	10	Fixed	4	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t3	MEMORY	10	Fixed	4	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
 insert into t1 values (5);
 insert into t2 values (5);
 insert into t3 values (5,5);
 show table status;
 Name	Engine	Version	Row_format	Rows	Avg_row_length	Data_length	Max_data_length	Index_length	Data_free	Auto_increment	Create_time	Update_time	Check_time	Collation	Checksum	Create_options	Comment
-t1	MEMORY	9	Fixed	5	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t2	MEMORY	9	Fixed	5	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t3	MEMORY	9	Fixed	5	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t1	MEMORY	10	Fixed	5	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t2	MEMORY	10	Fixed	5	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t3	MEMORY	10	Fixed	5	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
 delete from t1 where a=3;
 delete from t2 where b=3;
 delete from t3 where a=3;
 show table status;
 Name	Engine	Version	Row_format	Rows	Avg_row_length	Data_length	Max_data_length	Index_length	Data_free	Auto_increment	Create_time	Update_time	Check_time	Collation	Checksum	Create_options	Comment
-t1	MEMORY	9	Fixed	4	#	#	#	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t2	MEMORY	9	Fixed	4	#	#	#	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t3	MEMORY	9	Fixed	4	#	#	#	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t1	MEMORY	10	Fixed	4	#	#	#	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t2	MEMORY	10	Fixed	4	#	#	#	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t3	MEMORY	10	Fixed	4	#	#	#	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
 delete from t1;
 delete from t2;
 delete from t3;
 show table status;
 Name	Engine	Version	Row_format	Rows	Avg_row_length	Data_length	Max_data_length	Index_length	Data_free	Auto_increment	Create_time	Update_time	Check_time	Collation	Checksum	Create_options	Comment
-t1	MEMORY	9	Fixed	0	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t2	MEMORY	9	Fixed	0	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t3	MEMORY	9	Fixed	0	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t1	MEMORY	10	Fixed	0	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t2	MEMORY	10	Fixed	0	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t3	MEMORY	10	Fixed	0	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
 insert into t1 values (5);
 insert into t2 values (5);
 insert into t3 values (5,5);
 show table status;
 Name	Engine	Version	Row_format	Rows	Avg_row_length	Data_length	Max_data_length	Index_length	Data_free	Auto_increment	Create_time	Update_time	Check_time	Collation	Checksum	Create_options	Comment
-t1	MEMORY	9	Fixed	1	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t2	MEMORY	9	Fixed	1	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t3	MEMORY	9	Fixed	1	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t1	MEMORY	10	Fixed	1	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t2	MEMORY	10	Fixed	1	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t3	MEMORY	10	Fixed	1	#	#	#	#	0	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
 delete from t1 where a=5;
 delete from t2 where b=5;
 delete from t3 where a=5;
 show table status;
 Name	Engine	Version	Row_format	Rows	Avg_row_length	Data_length	Max_data_length	Index_length	Data_free	Auto_increment	Create_time	Update_time	Check_time	Collation	Checksum	Create_options	Comment
-t1	MEMORY	9	Fixed	0	#	#	#	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t2	MEMORY	9	Fixed	0	#	#	#	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
-t3	MEMORY	9	Fixed	0	#	#	#	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t1	MEMORY	10	Fixed	0	#	#	#	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t2	MEMORY	10	Fixed	0	#	#	#	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t3	MEMORY	10	Fixed	0	#	#	#	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
 drop table t1, t2, t3;
 create database mysqltest;
 show create database mysqltest;
diff --git a/mysql-test/r/view.result b/mysql-test/r/view.result
index 75459bd960b..ae1bb42cc29 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/view.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/view.result
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ v5	VIEW
 v6	VIEW
 show table status;
 Name	Engine	Version	Row_format	Rows	Avg_row_length	Data_length	Max_data_length	Index_length	Data_free	Auto_increment	Create_time	Update_time	Check_time	Collation	Checksum	Create_options	Comment
-t1	MyISAM	9	Fixed	5	9	45	38654705663	1024	0	NULL	#	#	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t1	MyISAM	10	Fixed	5	9	45	38654705663	1024	0	NULL	#	#	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
 v1	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	view
 v2	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	view
 v3	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	view
@@ -1115,7 +1115,7 @@ select * from v1;
 ERROR HY000: View 'test.v1' references invalid table(s) or column(s) or function(s)
 show table status;
 Name	Engine	Version	Row_format	Rows	Avg_row_length	Data_length	Max_data_length	Index_length	Data_free	Auto_increment	Create_time	Update_time	Check_time	Collation	Checksum	Create_options	Comment
-t1	MyISAM	9	Fixed	0	0	0	#	1024	0	NULL	#	#	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
+t1	MyISAM	10	Fixed	0	0	0	#	1024	0	NULL	#	#	NULL	latin1_swedish_ci	NULL		
 v1	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	#	#	NULL	NULL	NULL	NULL	View 'test.v1' references invalid table(s) or column(s) or function(s)
 drop view v1;
 drop table t1;
diff --git a/scripts/fill_func_tables.sh b/scripts/fill_func_tables.sh
index 459afee2fe1..203c730dd9a 100644
--- a/scripts/fill_func_tables.sh
+++ b/scripts/fill_func_tables.sh
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ print "USE mysql_help;\n";
 print "DROP TABLE IF EXISTS function;\n";
 print "CREATE TABLE function (";
 print "  func_id       int unsigned not null auto_increment,";
-print "  name          varchar(64) not null,";
-print "  url           varchar(128) not null,";
+print "  name          char(64) not null,";
+print "  url           char(128) not null,";
 print "  description   text not null,";
 print "  example       text not null,";
 print "  min_args      tinyint not null,";
@@ -145,8 +145,8 @@ print ") type=myisam;\n\n";
 print "DROP TABLE IF EXISTS function_category_name;\n";
 print "CREATE TABLE function_category_name (";
 print "  cat_id        smallint unsigned not null auto_increment,";
-print "  name          varchar(64) not null,";
-print "  url           varchar(128) not null,";
+print "  name          char(64) not null,";
+print "  url           char(128) not null,";
 print "  date_created  datetime not null,";
 print "  last_modified timestamp not null,";
 print "  primary key   (cat_id)";
diff --git a/scripts/mysql_create_system_tables.sh b/scripts/mysql_create_system_tables.sh
index 29f6f7b41e1..bb4c2f08193 100644
--- a/scripts/mysql_create_system_tables.sh
+++ b/scripts/mysql_create_system_tables.sh
@@ -270,11 +270,11 @@ then
 
   c_ht="$c_ht CREATE TABLE help_topic ("
   c_ht="$c_ht   help_topic_id    int unsigned not null,"
-  c_ht="$c_ht   name             varchar(64) not null,"
+  c_ht="$c_ht   name             char(64) not null,"
   c_ht="$c_ht   help_category_id smallint unsigned not null,"
   c_ht="$c_ht   description      text not null,"
   c_ht="$c_ht   example          text not null,"
-  c_ht="$c_ht   url              varchar(128) not null,"
+  c_ht="$c_ht   url              char(128) not null,"
   c_ht="$c_ht   primary key      (help_topic_id),"
   c_ht="$c_ht   unique index     (name)"
   c_ht="$c_ht ) engine=MyISAM"
@@ -292,9 +292,9 @@ then
   
   c_hc="$c_hc CREATE TABLE help_category ("
   c_hc="$c_hc   help_category_id   smallint unsigned not null,"
-  c_hc="$c_hc   name               varchar(64) not null,"
+  c_hc="$c_hc   name               char(64) not null,"
   c_hc="$c_hc   parent_category_id smallint unsigned null,"
-  c_hc="$c_hc   url                varchar(128) not null,"
+  c_hc="$c_hc   url                char(128) not null,"
   c_hc="$c_hc   primary key        (help_category_id),"
   c_hc="$c_hc   unique index       (name)"
   c_hc="$c_hc ) engine=MyISAM"
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ then
 
   c_hk="$c_hk CREATE TABLE help_keyword ("
   c_hk="$c_hk   help_keyword_id  int unsigned not null,"
-  c_hk="$c_hk   name             varchar(64) not null,"
+  c_hk="$c_hk   name             char(64) not null,"
   c_hk="$c_hk   primary key      (help_keyword_id),"
   c_hk="$c_hk   unique index     (name)"
   c_hk="$c_hk ) engine=MyISAM"
diff --git a/scripts/mysql_fix_privilege_tables.sh b/scripts/mysql_fix_privilege_tables.sh
index d5c96532782..d080b68b268 100644
--- a/scripts/mysql_fix_privilege_tables.sh
+++ b/scripts/mysql_fix_privilege_tables.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ args=""
 port=""
 socket=""
 database="mysql"
-bindir="."
+bindir=""
 pkgdatadir="@pkgdatadir@"
 print_defaults_bindir="."
 
diff --git a/scripts/mysql_fix_privilege_tables.sql b/scripts/mysql_fix_privilege_tables.sql
index 628b034362d..dee4ebd3d2f 100644
--- a/scripts/mysql_fix_privilege_tables.sql
+++ b/scripts/mysql_fix_privilege_tables.sql
@@ -319,19 +319,19 @@ KEY Grantor (Grantor)
 
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS help_topic (
 help_topic_id int unsigned not null,
-name varchar(64) not null,
+name char(64) not null,
 help_category_id smallint unsigned not null,
 description text not null,
 example text not null,
-url varchar(128) not null,
+url char(128) not null,
 primary key (help_topic_id), unique index (name)
 ) CHARACTER SET utf8 comment='help topics';
 
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS help_category (
 help_category_id smallint unsigned not null,
-name varchar(64) not null,
+name char(64) not null,
 parent_category_id smallint unsigned null,
-url varchar(128) not null,
+url char(128) not null,
 primary key (help_category_id),
 unique index (name)
 ) CHARACTER SET utf8 comment='help categories';
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ primary key (help_keyword_id, help_topic_id)
 
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS help_keyword (
 help_keyword_id int unsigned not null,
-name varchar(64) not null,
+name char(64) not null,
 primary key (help_keyword_id),
 unique index (name)
 ) CHARACTER SET utf8 comment='help keywords';
@@ -491,3 +491,35 @@ ALTER TABLE proc MODIFY name char(64) DEFAULT '' NOT NULL,
                             'NO_AUTO_CREATE_USER',
                             'HIGH_NOT_PRECEDENCE'
                             ) DEFAULT 0 NOT NULL;
+
+#
+# Change all varchar fields in privilege tables to CHAR, to ensure that
+# we can use the privilege tables in MySQL 4.1
+# Note that for this hack to work, we must change all CHAR() columns at
+# the same time
+#
+
+ALTER TABLE mysql.user
+modify Host char(60) binary DEFAULT '' NOT NULL,
+modify User char(16) binary DEFAULT '' NOT NULL,
+modify Password char(41) binary DEFAULT '' NOT NULL;
+
+ALTER TABLE mysql.db
+modify Host char(60) binary DEFAULT '' NOT NULL,
+modify Db char(64) binary DEFAULT '' NOT NULL,
+modify User char(16) binary DEFAULT '' NOT NULL;
+
+ALTER TABLE mysql.host
+modify Host char(60) binary DEFAULT '' NOT NULL,
+modify Db char(64) binary DEFAULT '' NOT NULL;
+
+ALTER TABLE help_topic
+modify name char(64) not null,
+modify url  char(128) not null;
+
+ALTER TABLE help_category
+modify name char(64) not null,
+modify url char(128) not null;
+
+ALTER TABLE help_keyword
+modify name char(64) not null;
diff --git a/sql/sql_table.cc b/sql/sql_table.cc
index 82d887891cf..b125eeaf03a 100644
--- a/sql/sql_table.cc
+++ b/sql/sql_table.cc
@@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ int prepare_create_field(create_field *sql_field,
     Prepares the table and key structures for table creation.
 
   NOTES
-    sets create_info->varchar if the table has a varchar or blob.
+    sets create_info->varchar if the table has a varchar
 
   RETURN VALUES
     0	ok
@@ -862,12 +862,7 @@ int mysql_prepare_table(THD *thd, HA_CREATE_INFO *create_info,
 			     &timestamps, &timestamps_with_niladic,
 			     file->table_flags()))
       DBUG_RETURN(-1);
-    if (sql_field->sql_type == FIELD_TYPE_BLOB ||
-        sql_field->sql_type == FIELD_TYPE_MEDIUM_BLOB ||
-        sql_field->sql_type == FIELD_TYPE_TINY_BLOB ||
-        sql_field->sql_type == FIELD_TYPE_LONG_BLOB ||
-        sql_field->sql_type == FIELD_TYPE_GEOMETRY ||
-        sql_field->sql_type == MYSQL_TYPE_VARCHAR)
+    if (sql_field->sql_type == MYSQL_TYPE_VARCHAR)
       create_info->varchar= 1;
     sql_field->offset= pos;
     if (MTYP_TYPENR(sql_field->unireg_check) == Field::NEXT_NUMBER)
diff --git a/sql/table.cc b/sql/table.cc
index 939690395d4..9238d8aa68e 100644
--- a/sql/table.cc
+++ b/sql/table.cc
@@ -149,6 +149,15 @@ int openfrm(THD *thd, const char *name, const char *alias, uint db_stat,
   *fn_ext(index_file)='\0';			// Remove .frm extension
 
   share->frm_version= head[2];
+  /*
+    Check if .frm file created by MySQL 5.0. In this case we want to
+    display CHAR fields as CHAR and not as VARCHAR.
+    We do it this way as we want to keep the old frm version to enable
+    MySQL 4.1 to read these files.
+  */
+  if (share->frm_version == FRM_VER_TRUE_VARCHAR -1 && head[33] == 5)
+    share->frm_version= FRM_VER_TRUE_VARCHAR;
+
   share->db_type= ha_checktype((enum db_type) (uint) *(head+3));
   share->db_create_options= db_create_options=uint2korr(head+30);
   share->db_options_in_use= share->db_create_options;
@@ -1317,6 +1326,7 @@ File create_frm(register my_string name, uint reclength, uchar *fileinfo,
     create_info->table_options|=HA_OPTION_LONG_BLOB_PTR; // Use portable blob pointers
     int2store(fileinfo+30,create_info->table_options);
     fileinfo[32]=0;				// No filename anymore
+    fileinfo[33]=5;                             // Mark for 5.0 frm file
     int4store(fileinfo+34,create_info->avg_row_length);
     fileinfo[38]= (create_info->default_table_charset ?
 		   create_info->default_table_charset->number : 0);