MySQL Forums :: Install :: ERROR 2002 (HY000): Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2)

# i hv installed mysql 5 at rhel4
# there is no mysql.sock file exist at my /var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock

# at /etc/my.cnf configurations are
[mysqld]
datadir=/var/lib/mysql
socket=/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock
# Default to using old password format for compatibility with mysql 3.x
# clients (those using the mysqlclient10 compatibility package).
#old_passwords=1

[mysql.server]
user=mysql
basedir=/var/lib

[mysqld_safe]
err-log=/var/log/mysqld.log
pid-file=/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.pid

[client]
socket=/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock

# i checked by this command "rpm -qa | grep -i mysql" it replies
MySQL-client-community-5.0.45-0.rhel4
MySQL-devel-community-5.0.45-0.rhel4
perl-DBD-MySQL-2.9004-3.1
MySQL-server-community-5.0.45-0.rhel4
MySQL-shared-community-5.0.45-0.rhel4
#
#and when checked by this command "rpm -q MySQL-server" it replies
package MySQL-server is not installed
#
#i checked by this command "ps -ef | grep mysql" and it replies
mysql 9220 1 0 Sep07 ? 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/mysqld --basedir=/ --datadir=/var/lib/mysql --user=mysql --pid-file=/var/lib/mysql/VC-11127.vopium.com.pid --skip-external-locking
root 21960 21860 0 00:27 pts/0 00:00:00 grep mysql

#when trying to start by "mysql -u root" it replies
ERROR 2002: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2)

#when giving command "which mysql" it replies
/usr/local/bin/mysql
#

# at the start when i installed this mysql version i get this msg
rpm -Uvh --nosignature MySQL-server-community-5.0.45-0.rhel4.i386.rpm
Preparing... ########################################### [100%]
1:MySQL-server-community ########################################### [100%]
PLEASE REMEMBER TO SET A PASSWORD FOR THE MySQL root USER !
To do so, start the server, then issue the following commands:
/usr/bin/mysqladmin -u root password 'new-password'
/usr/bin/mysqladmin -u root -h VC-11127.vopium.com password 'new-password'
See the manual for more instructions.
Please report any problems with the /usr/bin/mysqlbug script!

The latest information about MySQL is available on the web at
http://www.mysql.com
Support MySQL by buying support/licenses at http://shop.mysql.com
Starting MySQL../etc/init.d/mysql: line 159: kill: (16680) - No such process
[FAILED]

#
#when trying to start "mysqld_safe &" getting this msg ?
mysqld_safe &
[1] 21964
[root@VC-11127 ~]# Starting mysqld daemon with databases from /var/lib/mysql
STOPPING server from pid file /var/run/mysqld/mysqld.pid
070912 00:36:26 mysqld ended


[1]+ Done mysqld_safe
#
will anybody guide what to do .. how to start mysql or how to completely remove mysql and reinstall it again