root@acreo:~# mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables &
[1] 11901
root@acreo:~# nohup: ignoring input and redirecting stderr to stdout
Starting mysqld daemon with databases from /var/lib/mysql
mysqld_safe[11938]: started

root@acreo:~#
root@acreo:~# mysql -u root -p
Enter password:
Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 1
Server version: 5.0.51a-24+lenny4 (Debian)

Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the buffer.

mysql> UPDATE mysql.user SET Password=PASSWORD('MyNewPass') WHERE User='root';
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec)
Rows matched: 0  Changed: 0  Warnings: 0

mysql> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec)

mysql> exit
Bye
root@acreo:~# killall -9 mysqld_safe
[1]+  Killed                  mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables
root@acreo:~#
root@acreo:~# /etc/init.d/mysql start
Starting MySQL database server: mysqld already running.
root@acreo:~# /etc/init.d/mysql restart
Stopping MySQL database server: mysqld.
Starting MySQL database server: mysqld.
Checking for corrupt, not cleanly closed and upgrade needing tables..
root@acreo:~# mysql -u root -p
Enter password:
ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: YES)
root@acreo:~# mysql -u root
ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: NO)
root@acreo:~#