diff --git a/.github/actions/setup-windows/action.yml b/.github/actions/setup-windows/action.yml
index 4786242455a1..aa3b12c76bcf 100644
--- a/.github/actions/setup-windows/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/setup-windows/action.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,31 @@ runs:
     - name: Setup MySQL
       shell: pwsh
       run: |
-        choco install mysql -y --no-progress --params="/port:3306"
+        try {
+          # Try installing MySQL from default choco
+          choco install mysql -y --no-progress --params="/port:3306"
+          if (-not $?) {
+            throw "Chocolatey MySQL installation failed. Falling back to manual installation."
+          }
+        } catch {
+          Write-Host "Default MySQL installation failed (likely 403 from dev.mysql.com). Fallback to backup ZIP..."
+          $backupUrl = "https://github.com/divinity76/php-src/releases/download/mysql-8.0.31-winx64.zip/mysql-8.0.31-winx64.zip"
+          $destination = "C:\tools\mysql-8.0.31-winx64.zip"
+          Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $backupUrl -OutFile $destination
+          # 3) Expand the ZIP into C:\tools\mysql
+          Expand-Archive -Path $destination -DestinationPath "C:\tools\mysql"
+          # 4) Point to the MySQL bin directory in the environment PATH (for the current session)
+          $mysqlDir = "C:\tools\mysql\mysql-8.0.31-winx64"
+          $env:Path += ";$mysqlDir\bin"
+          # 5) Initialize the MySQL data directory (insecure init => empty root password)
+          & "$mysqlDir\bin\mysqld.exe" --initialize-insecure --datadir="$mysqlDir\data"
+          # 6) Install MySQL as a Windows service named "MySQL80"
+          & "$mysqlDir\bin\mysqld.exe" --install MySQL80 --datadir="$mysqlDir\data"
+          # 7) Start the MySQL service
+          Start-Service MySQL80
+          # (Optional) Wait a few seconds to ensure MySQL is fully up:
+          Start-Sleep -Seconds 2
+        }
         mysql.exe --port=3306 --user=root --password="" -e "ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'Password12!'; FLUSH PRIVILEGES;"
     - name: Setup MSSQL
       shell: pwsh
diff --git a/.github/workflows/nightly.yml b/.github/workflows/nightly.yml
index c2816d72cf18..4c8ec23b158a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/nightly.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/nightly.yml
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ jobs:
             -d zend_extension=opcache.so
             -d opcache.enable_cli=1
       - uses: codecov/codecov-action@v4
-        if: !cancelled()
+        if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
         with:
           fail_ci_if_error: true
           token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ jobs:
           echo opcache.jit_hot_side_exit=1 >> /etc/php.d/opcache.ini
           php -v
       - name: Test AMPHP
-        if: !cancelled()
+        if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
         run: |
           repositories="amp cache dns file http parallel parser pipeline process serialization socket sync websocket-client websocket-server"
           X=0
@@ -518,7 +518,7 @@ jobs:
           done
           exit $X
       - name: Test Laravel
-        if: !cancelled()
+        if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
         run: |
           git clone https://github.com/laravel/framework.git --branch=master --depth=1
           cd framework
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
       - name: Test ReactPHP
-        if: !cancelled()
+        if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
         run: |
           repositories="async cache child-process datagram dns event-loop promise promise-stream promise-timer stream"
           X=0
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ jobs:
           done
           exit $X
       - name: Test Revolt PHP
-        if: !cancelled()
+        if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
         run: |
           git clone https://github.com/revoltphp/event-loop.git --depth=1
           cd event-loop
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
       - name: Test Symfony
-        if: !cancelled() && !inputs.skip_symfony
+        if: ${{ !cancelled() && !inputs.skip_symfony }}
         run: |
           git clone https://github.com/symfony/symfony.git --depth=1
           cd symfony
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ jobs:
           done
           exit $X
       - name: Test PHPUnit
-        if: !cancelled()
+        if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
         run: |
           git clone https://github.com/sebastianbergmann/phpunit.git --branch=main --depth=1
           cd phpunit
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
       - name: 'Symfony Preloading'
-        if: !cancelled() && !inputs.skip_symfony
+        if: ${{ !cancelled() && !inputs.skip_symfony }}
         run: |
           php /usr/bin/composer create-project symfony/symfony-demo symfony_demo --no-progress --ignore-platform-reqs
           cd symfony_demo
@@ -600,7 +600,7 @@ jobs:
           sed -i 's/PHP_SAPI/"cli-server"/g' var/cache/dev/App_KernelDevDebugContainer.preload.php
           php -d opcache.preload=var/cache/dev/App_KernelDevDebugContainer.preload.php public/index.php
       - name: Test Wordpress
-        if: !cancelled() && !inputs.skip_wordpress
+        if: ${{ !cancelled() && !inputs.skip_wordpress }}
         run: |
           git clone https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop.git wordpress --depth=1
           cd wordpress