mysql root user recovery

[Edward Lassotovitch]

THANKS TO WOOZLE!

/etc/init.d/mysql stop
/usr/bin/mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables &

mysql -u root
use mysql;
INSERT INTO `mysql`.`user` (`Host` , `User` , `Password` , `Select_priv` , `Insert_priv` , `Update_priv` , `Delete_priv` , `Create_priv` , `Drop_priv` , `Reload_priv` , `Shutdown_priv` , `Process_priv` , `File_priv` , `Grant_priv` , `References_priv` , `Index_priv` , `Alter_priv` , `Show_db_priv` , `Super_priv` , `Create_tmp_table_priv` , `Lock_tables_priv` , `Execute_priv` , `Repl_slave_priv` , `Repl_client_priv` , `Create_view_priv` , `Show_view_priv` , `Create_routine_priv` , `Alter_routine_priv` , `Create_user_priv` , `ssl_type` , `ssl_cipher` , `x509_issuer` , `x509_subject` , `max_questions` , `max_updates` , `max_connections` , `max_user_connections` )VALUES ('%', 'root', PASSWORD( '' ) , 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', 'Y', '', '', '', '', '0', '0', '0', '0');
exit

/etc/init.d/mysql stop
/etc/init.d/mysql start
This did the trick for me without having to backup any databases and without reinstalling the server.