A fresh install didn’t seem to let me set/reset the password and for some reason I couldn’t get in. So thanks to: http://ubuntu.flowconsult.at/en/mysql-set-change-reset-root-password/ for the answer (which worked in Hardy):

1. Stop the MySQL Server

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop

2. Start the mysqld configuration.

sudo mysqld –skip-grant-tables &

3. Login to MySQL as root.

mysql -u root mysql

4. Replace YOURNEWPASSWORD with your new password!

UPDATE user SET Password=PASSWORD(‘YOURNEWPASSWORD’) WHERE User=’root’; FLUSH PRIVILEGES; exit;

Note: This method is not regarded as the securest way of resetting the password. However it works.