Cannot log in to phpMyAdmin with my root password for mySQL (on Mac OS X Lion)

Question

So I am trying to log in to phpMyAdmin using my root password (Username: root Password: ******), however, I continue to receive the error: #2002 Cannot log in to the MySQL server

I am pretty sure I know the root password, as I have typed into terminal on Mac OS X the line:

sudo /usr/local/mysql/support-files/mysql.server start

and was prompted with a "Password:" line. I typed the password, and the terminal read:

Starting MySQL...SUCCESS! And thus the server started up. I am not sure why the same password is not working for phpMyAdmin.

I have tried setting the password in terminal with the command:

/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqladmin -u root password *******

But I receive the output:

/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqladmin: connect to server at 'localhost' failed
error: 'Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: NO)' 

I would very much appreciate help. I am at my wits end with this. I have tried several websites, and the mySQL instructions are useless on this matter. A detailed explanation on how to solve this problem (on Mac OS X Lion) would be very helpful. Thank you.

Update:

I've been trying to reset the root password, and have been following these instructions: http://www.coolestguyplanet.net/how-to-change-the-mysql-root-password/

However, when I use the command: /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables

I receive the following output:

111217 10:00:42 mysqld_safe Logging to '/usr/local/mysql/data/******-********-MacBook-Pro.local.err'.
111217 10:00:42 mysqld_safe Starting mysqld daemon with databases from /usr/local/mysql/data
/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe: line 107: /usr/local/mysql/data/********-********-MacBook-Pro.local.err: Permission denied
/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe: line 144: /usr/local/mysql/data/*******-**********-MacBook-Pro.local.err: Permission denied
111217 10:00:42 mysqld_safe mysqld from pid file /usr/local/mysql/data/*********-********-MacBook-Pro.local.pid ended
/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe: line 107: /usr/local/mysql/data/*******-*********-MacBook-Pro.local.err: Permission denied
**********-*********-MacBook-Pro:~ myname$ 

Why would my permission be denied??

Answer 1

Take a look at this tutorial

Make sure your password is correct, if you need it you can change it with this

/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqladmin -u root -p password

When it asks for a password, do not enter anything, just hit enter. It will then ask you to enter new password, then confirm. Finished.

Then you will need also to do this.

sudo mkdir /var/mysql
sudo ln -s /tmp/mysql.sock /var/mysql/mysql.sock

Answer 2

In config.inc.php change localhost to 127.0.0.1 for $cfg['Servers'][$i]['host'] key.