Cannot log in to the MySQL server

[Pat Patten]

I initially installed xampp and put in root as username and a password. I then had to reinstall xampp and cannot access the MySQL server. I keep getting this message mysqli_real_connect(): (HY000/1045): Access denied for user 'root'@localhost' (using password: YES) I have looked at all the documentation I can find online and in various forums and cannot locate the answer. I am running Windows10. I would be grateful if someone could help me figure this out.

Thanks so much.

Pat