Re: ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user '=root'@'localhost'

[Peter Brawley]

> ERROR 2003 (HY000): Can't connect to MySQL server on 'localhost' (10061)

That msg usually indicates the MySQL server isn't running.

> mysqld -defaults-file="\C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0my.ini" --skip-grant-tables
> did not help at all

What does "does not help at all" mean?

There are two possible results of the cmd: (i) it fails with an error and returns to the "DOS" prompt with error msgs(ii) it starts the MySQL server successfully and appears to hang, which means the server is running, at which point you open another cmd window to call up the mysql client.

> I guess I am not sure when to use two dashes

As the docs say, use one dash and no equals operator for abbreviations, two dashes and an equals operator for the fully syntax.

> Windows does not like two dashes in some places.

Some Win apps eg Word auto-edit two dashes to one, but I've never seen the Windows commandline do that, have you?