mysql reset root password

http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/recover-mysql-root-password.html

on fedora: /etc/init.d/mysqld
on debian: /etc/initd/mysql

/etc/init.d/mysql stop
mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables &
mysql -u root 
mysql> use mysql;
mysql> update user set password=PASSWORD("NEW-ROOT-PASSWORD") where User='root';
mysql> flush privileges;
mysql> quit
/etc/init.d/mysql start