Dtyjlui

I need to reset the root password of my local mysql installation but it woudln't let me. I've tried this:

$ sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop

 * Stopping MySQL database server mysqld                                                                                                              [ OK ] 

[1]-  Exit 1                  sudo /usr/sbin/mysqld --skip-grant-tables --skip-networking

[2]+  Exit 1                  sudo /usr/sbin/mysqld --skip-grant-tables --skip-networking

reg@regDesktopHome:~$ sudo mysqld --skip-grant-tables &

[1] 13651

reg@regDesktopHome:~$ 140627 19:02:02 [Warning] Using unique option prefix key_buffer instead of key_buffer_size is deprecated and will be removed in a future release. Please use the full name instead.



reg@regDesktopHome:~$ mysql -u root mysql

ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: NO)

reg@regDesktopHome:~$ sudo mysql -u root mysql

ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: NO)

[1]+  Exit 1                  sudo mysqld --skip-grant-tables

How can I get the password reset?
edit 1
I got this:

$ ps ax| grep mysql

16515 ?        Ssl    0:00 /usr/sbin/mysqld

16551 pts/23   S+     0:00 grep --color=auto mysql

reg@regDesktopHome:~/semios/v3upgrade$ sudo kill -9 16515

reg@regDesktopHome:~/semios/v3upgrade$ ps ax| grep mysql

16678 ?        Ssl    0:00 /usr/sbin/mysqld

16715 pts/23   S+     0:00 grep --color=auto mysql

reg@regDesktopHome:~/semios/v3upgrade$ mysql -u root

ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: NO)

looks like a process is automatically restarting mysql as soon as I kill it...

First please try using

mysql -u root -p

and enter your password (if you remember) at the prompt to login as the sql-root user (note the switch -p is for password).

If you really have to reset your root password for mysql, here's an easy way - reconfigure the package with dpkg-reconfigure.

Easy steps to reset mySQL root password:

1. 
   

   Check the version of your mysql-server;

   
   
   

   apt-cache policy mysql-server
   
   

   
   
   

   and see for the line which shows the installed version among other information. e.g. for my install it's:

   
   
   

   Installed: 5.5.37-0ubuntu0.12.04.1
   
   

   
   
   

   (From this I know that I have mysql-server-5.5 installed in my system.)

   
   


2. 
   

   Start the reconfiguration with:

   
   
   

   sudo dpkg-reconfigure mysql-server-*.*
   
   

   
   
   

   where mysql-server-*.* should be replaced by the version that you have. (for me it'd be mysql-server-5.5). This will stop the database daemon. A prompt will then appear where you'd have to enter your new password and confirm the reconfiguration.

   
   
   

   

   
   
   

   The daemon will be automatically started after the reconfig completes.

   
   


3. 
   

   You can then log in with:

   
   
   

   mysql -u root -p
   
   

   
   
   

   and start your database admin tasks.

   
   

References:

1. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MysqlPasswordReset [Which would soon be cleaned up as indicated in the page.]




2. Ubuntu Server Guide related to your specific version.

Reference taken from this blog:

Step 1:
Stop MySQL Service.

sudo service mysql stop

Step 2:
Kill all running mysqld.

sudo killall -9 mysqld

Step 3:
Starting mysqld in Safe mode.

sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables --skip-networking &

Step 4:
Start mysql client

mysql -u root

Step 5:
After successful login, please execute this command to change any password.

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Step 6:
You can update mysql root password .

UPDATE mysql.user SET Password=PASSWORD('newpwd') WHERE User='root';

for mysql > 5.7 use this instead of above:

UPDATE mysql.user SET authentication_string=PASSWORD('newpwd') WHERE User='root';

Step 7:
Please execute this command.

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Step 8:
Exit mysql console

exit

Step 9:
Kill mysqld_safe and start mysql

sudo killall mysqld_safe && sudo service mysql start

Under Ubuntu 16.04 and mysql-server-5.7, the correct answer is the last comment of olafure, dpkg-reconfigure mysql-server-5.7 no longer works.

sudo service mysql stop

sudo killall mysqld

sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables --skip-networking &

mysql -u root

Now in mysql console >mysql

USE mysql;

UPDATE user SET authentication_string=PASSWORD('newpass') WHERE user='root';

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

q

Restart the good mysql process

sudo killall mysqld

sudo service mysql start

Check your new password

mysql -u root -p

Enter password: newpass

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