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If you set a root password previously, but have forgotten what it was, you can set a new password. The following procedure is for Windows systems. The procedure for Unix systems is given later in this section.

The procedure under Windows:

Log on to your system as Administrator

Stop the MySQL server

Stop the MySQL server if it is running. For a server that is running as a Windows service, go to the Services manager:

Start Menu -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services

Then find the MySQL service in the list, and stop it.

If your server is not running as a service, you may need to use the Task Manager to force it to stop.

sql query file

Create a text file and place the following command within it on a single line:

SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost' = PASSWORD('MyNewPassword');

Save the file with any name. For this example the file will be C:\mysql-init.txt.

run sql query in cli

Open a console window to get to the DOS command prompt:

Start Menu -> Run -> cmd

We are assuming that you installed MySQL to C:\mysql. If you installed MySQL to another location, adjust the following commands accordingly.

At the DOS command prompt, execute this command:

C:\> C:\mysql\bin\mysqld-nt –init-file=C:\mysql-init.txt

The contents of the file named by the –init-file option are executed at server startup, changing the root password. After the server has started successfully, you should delete C:\mysql-init.txt.

If you install MySQL using the MySQL Installation Wizard, you may need to specify a –defaults-file option:

C:\> “C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.0\bin\mysqld-nt.exe”
–defaults-file=”C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.0\my.ini”
–init-file=C:\mysql-init.txt

The appropriate –defaults-file setting can be found using the Services Manager:

Start Menu -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services

Find the MySQL service in the list, right-click on it, and choose the Properties option. The Path to executable field contains the –defaults-file setting.

Stop the MySQL server, then restart it in normal mode again. If you run the server as a service, start it from the Windows Services window. If you start the server manually, use whatever command you normally use.

You should be able to connect using the new password.