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 You can change the password for mysql by using mysqladmin.  I think the following will do it for you:
 mysqladmin -u root -p password <new password>
 
 Just replace <new password> with the new password you want to use.  Typing this command will cause mysql to prompt you for your existing password.  Since Mandrake 8.x doesn't assign a password, just hit enter when prompted.
 
 EDIT: The above command may interpret the string "password" as your old password.  If that happens try this command instead:
 
 mysqladmin -p -u root password <new password>
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