Can't connect to MySQL server on 'localhost'

[Alex Riggle]

Hello

I just installed MySQL using mysql-installer-5.5.20.0.msi. It opened Workbench for me. First thing I did was to try to follow the instructions on the "Post-installation procedures" page: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.5/en/windows-postinstallation.html

I opened a cmd window and tried to run "mysqlshow -u root -p". It asked me for my password, then returned this error: "Can't connect to MySQL server on 'localhost' (10061)"

So I went to the troubleshooting page: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.5/en/windows-troubleshooting.html

It told me to look for an error log in c:\program files\mysql\mysql server 5.5\data. That directory exists, but there is no error log there (it includes the folders mysql and performance_schema).

The next thing the troubleshooting page says to do is to open a command window and run "NET START MySQL". I ran this and it said "The service name is invalid." I went into Windows Services to verify that mysql was a service. It was there, but not running, so I started it and tried "NET START MySQL" again. Same error. (It said more help is available by typing "NET HELPMSG 2185" but when I did that I still got the same error.)

Helllllp!

Thanks,
Alex