sockets - Resetting MySQL password & missing mysqld.sock file -

i trying run local mysql server, on own computer. have lost password set up. when try connect mysql, following error:

error 2002 (hy000): can't connect local mysql server through socket '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2)

i have therefore tried these steps reset mysql password, line

mysql -u root mysql

returns same error message:

error 2002 (hy000): can't connect local mysql server through socket '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2)

when running command

mysqladmin -u root -p status following message: error: 'can't connect local mysql server through socket '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2)'

check mysqld running , socket: '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' exists!

i have been checking , file mentioned (/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock) doesn't exist. not sure causing this.

i have tried couple of solutions online including this, this, this , this none of solutions worked me. add mysql-server installed on machine.

any appreciated. please accept apologies if there confusion above statements. tried explain happening as can, beginner , clueless happenening there.

1) stop mysql demon process using command :

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop 

2) start mysqld demon process using --skip-grant-tables option command

sudo /usr/sbin/mysqld --skip-grant-tables --skip-networking & 

because not checking user privs @ point, it's safest disable networking. in dapper, /usr/bin/mysqld... did not work. however, mysqld --skip-grant-tables did.

1) start mysql client process using command

mysql -u root 

2) mysql prompt execute command able change password

flush privileges; 

3) reset/update password

set password root@'localhost' = password('password'); 

4) if have mysql root account can connect everywhere, should do:

update mysql.user set password=password('newpwd') user='root'; 

once have received message indicating successful query (one or more rows affected), flush privileges:

flush privileges; 

then stop mysqld process , relaunch classical way:

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop sudo /etc/init.d/mysql start 

this borrowed https://help.ubuntu.com/community/mysqlpasswordreset , can check method reset mysql password.