InnoDB: Operating system error number 5 when trying to reset root password

[gclarkson]

I am using the command line in trying to reset the root password in MySQL 5.1 using mysqld.exe but all I get is:

091113 20:59:36 [Note] Plugin ‘FEDERATED’ is disabled.
091113 20:59:36 InnoDB: Operating system error number 5 in a file operation
InnoDB: The error means mysqld does not have access rights to
InnoDB: the directory. It may also be you have created a subdirectory
InnoDB: of the same name as a data file.
InnoDB: File name .\ibdata1
InnoDB: File operation call: ‘open’.
InnoDB: Cannot continue operation.

When I look around for a solution I get the impression that this is not MySQL but Microsoft. Can anyone help me reset the MySQL root password?!

Thanking you in advance,

Glenn.

[longneck]

your data folder and mysql configuration file are probably in non-default locations and you are not using the --defaults-file option to specify the path to the configuration file.

you have two options:

• use the --defaults-file option to specify the path to your configuration file
• instead of starting mysql from the command line, add skip-grant-table to your configuration file and start the server normally. log in and reset the password. remove skip-grant-tables and restart the server to return to normal operation.

[gclarkson]

Thank you longneck.

I discovered that the problem was indeed Microsoft! I needed to run mysqld.exe under admin privileges. Once I did that the the password changed and all I needed to do was restart MySQL as a service and login using the reset password.

Very many thanks for you help and support.

Best regards,

Glenn.