MySQL Server 5.5 : unable to set password for the MySQL “root” user

Question

when updating MySQL Server on Ubuntu, installer asks me if I want to update my root password. Whether I do change it or not, I get the following error :

unable to set password for the MySQL "root" user

dpkg error :

Setting up mysql-server-5.5 (5.5.44-0ubuntu0.14.04.1) ... 150803 22:14:05 [Warning] Using unique option prefix key_buffer instead of key_buffer_size is deprecated and will be removed in a future release. Please use the full name instead. 150803 22:14:05 [Note] /usr/sbin/mysqld (mysqld 5.5.44-0ubuntu0.14.04.1) starting as process 4824 ... start: Job failed to start invoke-rc.d: initscript mysql, action "start" failed. dpkg: error processing package mysql-server-5.5 (--configure): subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1 dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of mysql-server: mysql-server depends on mysql-server-5.5; however:
Package mysql-server-5.5 is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package mysql-server (--configure): dependency problems - leaving unconfigured Errors were encountered while processing: mysql-server-5.5 mysql-server E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

cat /proc/version
Linux version 3.13.0-61-generic (buildd@lgw01-50) (gcc version 4.8.2 (Ubuntu 4.8.2-19ubuntu1) ) #100-Ubuntu SMP Wed Jul 29 11:21:34 UTC 2015

I've tried everything we can see on the Internet : purging mysql-server, deleting /var/lib/mysql, ... but still I get this error.

Has anyone succeeded in updating mysql (or an alternative database compatible with Wordpress)?

Answer 1

Possibly caused by an unsuccessful manual installation of Mysql server . Request you to purge and reinstall again. Can follow the hacks provided here

https://askubuntu.com/questions/253023/unable-to-set-password-for-the-mysql-root-user