[cobalt-users] MySQL - cannot get root@localhost authorized

["WebMost" <dbugger@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have re-installed MySQL on a RaQ3 five or six times. Each time, it goes in
without giving me an opportunity to set a root password. Then it denies me
access, saying "root@localhost not authorized"

I have tried the following routine every which way I can think of:

ps -aux | grep mysql
kill <pid>
mysqld -Sg &
mysql -u root
use mysql;
delete from user where User="root";
insert into user values
("localhost","root","<password>","Y","Y","Y","Y","Y","Y","Y","Y","Y","Y","Y"
,"Y","Y","Y");
flush privileges;
exit;
ps -aux | grep mysql
kill <pid>
safe_mysqld &

But this never seems to affect the password for root@localhost, because I am
once again denied.

Where have I goofed?