To get many modules (probably most) to compile under 5.5.x on win32, you'd have
patch your perl many many many many times, until you've essentially written perl 5.6.x
(i've tried to compile about 20 distributions, gave up for good).
Just use perl 5.6.x, or stick with older versions of DBI if they'll compile on 5.5 (like http://ppm.activestate.com/PPMPackages/zips/5xx-builds-only/).
MJDsays "you can't just make shit up and expect the computer to know what you mean, retardo!"