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.