Can't change MySQL password

Question

I installed MySQL, and the installation requires a password. I didn't want to enter one, but I had to to click "Next" and finish the installation.

So, I tried to change it.

In the cmd prompt:

C:\>mysql -u root -p
Enter password: **

mysql> use mysql;
Database changed
mysql> select `password` from `user` where `user` = 'root';

That returns an empty password field. But when I do mysql -u root I get the access denied error, and then I do mysql -u root -p and it asks for a password, I press enter, and I get denied access. So I repeat what's in the code block above, and the same thing happens.

Answer 1

see http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/resetting-permissions.html

(this was mentioned in answer to an almost identical question)