Unable to update security settings. Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: YES)

Question

While running mysql-installer-community-5.6.10 during the Configuration step, I get the error:

Unable to update security settings. Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: YES)

and the configuration fails.

... and the password is being set during the previous step of the configuration process, so I don't see how it possibly could be wrong...

I have tried turning off the Windows Firewall but it has not helped.

Could anybody help me out with this?

Answer 1

The problem is that MySQL saves its configuration data in a different location and that includes your old root password. If you're going to re-install MySQL you have to first delete this old configuration data which can be found in:

C:\ProgramData\MySQL

You may have to tell windows to show hidden files and folders because this folder is hidden by default.

Answer 2

I just had the same issue. This helped me C:\ProgramData\MySql\ Remove folder "MySQL Server" and all conf files.

Answer 3

I had the same issue, and my first install of mysql ever. For me it was the fact that I did not run the .msi installation file as administrator. By launching through a command prompt that was run as admin the issue was resolved. This is on Windows 7.

Also, I uninstalled twice for this issue. Once I deleted the (nonexistent) serverdata. In that case, the reinstall did not ask for Current root password. When I did not delete serverdata, the Current root password was indeed asked at reinstall. So you can bypass Current root password I believe.

Answer 4

I just had this problem. The prior install screen had asked for the Current root password. But this was the first MySQL install on the machine.

Answer: when asked for the Current root password, leave that field blank. Then the server installed ok.