MySQL-Reset-Root

From DevRandom

This method requires only 1 restart of MySQL & privileges are never opened to all connections (local or network) unlike the --skip-grant option

Edit my.cnf and add

init_file=/tmp/mysql.init

Edit mysql.init and add the following

SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost' = PASSWORD('newsecurepassword');
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Restart MySQL

Remove or comment out init_file=/tmp/mysql.init from my.cnf file