Even after I reset root password with following command I can not log to mySQL: (other command listed to provide additional info)

    # sudo dpkg-reconfigure mysql-server-5.1

    # mysql -u root -p
    Enter password:
    ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: YES)

    # telnet 127.0.0.1 3306
      Trying 127.0.0.1...
      telnet: Unable to connect to remote host: Connection refused
    # ps -Aw |grep mysql
      26522 ?        00:00:00 mysqld

    # /etc/init.d/mysql start
    Rather than invoking init scripts through /etc/init.d, use the service(8)
    utility, e.g. service mysql start

    Since the script you are attempting to invoke has been converted to an
    Upstart job, you may also use the start(8) utility, e.g. start mysql

update:

     # sudo mysqladmin -u root password 123
     mysqladmin: connect to server at 'localhost' failed

it seems mysql is not ruining properly