LinuxQuestions.org - Locked out of MySQL somehow!

This could probably be in a better topic but this looks fitting for now!

OK so out of nowhere (no system changes or anything) I am unable to login (usefully) as root to mysql. The only thing I can think of is some sort of security that was triggered when I tried to use mysql admin from windows.

MySQL is running on my Gentoo server and here is what is happening...

I have a website I run for tracking reptile feedings and other stats, can't connect to that db and i can't change the password for root! I have restated the service, but that didn't help.

Code:

mysql> UPDATE mysql.user SET Password=PASSWORD('foobar') WHERE User='root';

ERROR 1142 (42000): UPDATE command denied to user ''@'localhost' for table 'user'

mysql>

Code:

# /usr/bin/mysqladmin -u root password 'foobar'

/usr/bin/mysqladmin: Can't turn off logging; error: 'Access denied; you need the SUPER privilege for this operation'

ran /usr/bin/mysql_secure_installation as suggested to fix the issue...

Code:

Set root password? [Y/n] Y

New password:

Re-enter new password:

ERROR 1142 (42000) at line 1: UPDATE command denied to user ''@'localhost' for table 'user'

Password update failed!

and some more info...

Code:

mysql> show grants;

+--------------------------------------+

| Grants for @localhost                |

+--------------------------------------+

| GRANT USAGE ON *.* TO ''@'localhost' |

+--------------------------------------+

1 row in set (0.00 sec)



mysql> show databases;

+--------------------+

| Database          |

+--------------------+

| information_schema |

| test              |

+--------------------+

2 rows in set (0.01 sec)

I have about 10 databases total - not sure if that is what I should be seeing at this point? Anyone seen this before?

My cacti is still running so it is not a system wide problem. But I need to get the root user back to normal ASAP!