LinuxQuestions.org - can't setup MySQL root password

Following guide for CentOS 5.5 i've installed mysql server on my box.
Next step was setting up password for root user.
As you undestood, it failed. :(

output:

Code:

# rpm -qa | grep mysql

mysql-devel-5.0.77-4.el5_5.3

php-mysql-5.1.6-27.el5

mysql-5.0.77-4.el5_5.3

mysql-server-5.0.77-4.el5_5.3

Code:

# hostname

cent55.denhome.ge

Code:

# service mysqld status

mysqld (pid 2818) is running...

Code:

# netstat -tap | grep mysql

tcp        0      0 *:mysql                    *:*                        LIST

AND HERE ARE COMMANDS FOR PASSWORD CHANGE

Code:

# mysqladmin -u root password xxxxxx

mysqladmin: connect to server at 'localhost' failed

error: 'Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: NO)'



# mysqladmin -h cent55.denhome.ge -u root password xxxxxx

mysqladmin: connect to server at 'cent55.denhome.ge' failed

error: 'Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: NO)'

Code:

# mysqladmin ping

mysqladmin: connect to server at 'localhost' failed

error: 'Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: NO)'

It's output from second try. During first try i didn't get error on first line command but did on second. In all tries after i got same errors on both lines

everything done under root
/etc/hosts is ok
iptables off

Please any suggestions