reset mysql root password

this is for debian... and it is so straight forward... Here a copy and paste...

# dpkg -l mysql-server* | grep ii
ii  mysql-server                        5.0.51a-3                     MySQL database server (meta package depending on the latest version)
ii  mysql-server-5.0                    5.0.51a-3                     MySQL database server binaries


# dpkg-reconfigure mysql-server-5.0
Stopping MySQL database server: mysqld.
[debconf screen appears]

 While not mandatory, it is highly       
 recommended that you set a password     
 for the MySQL administrative "root"     
 user.                                   
                                         
 If that field is left blank, the        
 password will not be changed.           
                                         
 New password for the MySQL "root"       
 user:                                   
 _______________________________________ 
                                         
                                     


Stopping MySQL database server: mysqld.
Stopping MySQL database server: mysqld.
Starting MySQL database server: mysqld.
Checking for corrupt, not cleanly closed and upgrade needing tables..

...one click closer from the original post. In the same page you will find other procedures including a windows solution. Credits to anonymous, the original poster.