MYSQL- Access denied for user ‘root’@\\\\\\'localhost’ (using password- YES)

While testing a new design for my site recently I came across this error. I had been editing the mysql user”s table to let a local machine on my network access the db temporarily.

It turns out I had accidentally overriden the [email protected] row in the user table.

The solution can be found here 

Stop mysql:

sudo service mysql stop

Start with skip-grant-tables cd /usr/bin sudo mysqld_safe –skip-grant-tables

Open a new terminal windowUpdate the user $mysql

mysql> use mysql;

mysql> UPDATE user SET Host="localhost" WHERE user = "root" and Host="WHATITWASBEFORE";

mysql> exit;

sudo kill -9 PROCESS_ID_OF_MYSQL

Start mysql again: sudo service mysql start