Persisent root issues through multiple re-installs

[Andrea P]

I am experiencing for the first time in many years of using MySQL, an issue with the root user which persists across reinstallations - even of different mysql versions.

I have now cycled through 9.2, 9.3, 8.4.5 and 8.0.42

After a first connection to the server, whether this is done from Workench or command line, I am unable to connect again.

8.0.42 rejects the password and after a few attempts outputs the classic error
"Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: YES)"

8.4.5, 9.2 and 9.3 instead, report that it can't login using the "native_password" plugin, although the root user was clearly set to use sha authentication

I am clueless