[Typo3] Upgrade 3.7 -> 3.8.1 - issue upgrading static templates

[Nige]

I've just upgraded my site from 3.7.0 to 3.8.1...after a few problems, 
it's now running on my local machine (thanks Michael!).

Note that the site is running but so far I HAVE NOT updated the static 
templates in the install tool...when I try to do this the following 
happens...

When I do "dump static data", the table static_template and
static_tsconfig_help are dropped! I then do "update required tables" -
compare and these 2 missing tables are listed as requiring
"create"...but when I click "write to db" they are not created.

Any ideas anyone?

I am using mysql 4.1.x, logged in on my local machine as the root user,
so permissions can't be the problem.

Nige