mysql_secure_installation fails ... trying to set root password!

[dalearyous]

running centos 6.3

in terminal i run /usr/bin/mysql_secure_installation

it starts and then asks Enter current password for root (enter for none):
so i hit enter

Y for set root password

i type in root password twice, fails:
ERROR 1142 (42000) at line 1: UPDATE command denied to user ''@'localhost' for table 'user'
Password update failed!

any ideas?

 

[robvas]

Stop the MySQL service and then do this:


rm -fr /var/lib/mysql/*


Then start it and try to get back in the database. There is probably a password already set, that line will erase it (and your existing databases!)

 

[calebb]

Solutions for:

MySQL 5.0, MySQL 5.1, and MySQL 5.5

 

[dalearyous]

none of the resetting or solutions found by googling worked.

i simple removed it, deleted the mysql folder, reinstalled