mysqld: Can't change dir to data. Server doesn't start - mysql

Question

I installed a MySQL server with installer and it started. After reboot I tried to start it again and get the error:
D:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.7\bin>mysqld -u root -p
mysqld: Can't change dir to 'D:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.7\data\' (Errcode: 2 - No such file or directory)
2015-11-17T08:30:18.822962Z 0 [Warning] TIMESTAMP with implicit DEFAULT value is deprecated. Please use --explicit_defaults_for_timestamp server option (see documentation for more details).
2015-11-17T08:30:18.822962Z 0 [Warning] Insecure configuration for --secure- file -priv: Current value does not restrict location of generated files. Consider setting it to a valid, non-empty path.
2015-11-17T08:30:18.822962Z 0 [Note] mysqld (mysqld 5.7.9) starting as process 1108 ...
2015-11-17T08:30:18.838586Z 0 [Warning] Can't create test file D:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.7\data\DESKTOP-RNBR3E8.lower-test
2015-11-17T08:30:18.838586Z 0 [Warning] Can't create test file D:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.7\data\DESKTOP-RNBR3E8.lower-test
2015-11-17T08:30:18.838586Z 0 [ERROR] failed to set datadir to D:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.7\data\
2015-11-17T08:30:18.838586Z 0 [ERROR] Aborting
2015-11-17T08:30:18.838586Z 0 [Note] Binlog end
2015-11-17T08:30:18.838586Z 0 [Note] mysqld: Shutdown complete
I tried to reinstall MySQL.
UPDATE:
When I run mysqld -u root -p as administrator, nothing happens.

Answer 1

I have met same problem. In my case I had no ..\data dir in my C:\mysql\ so I just executed mysqld --initialize command from c:\mysql\bin\ directory and I got the data directory in c:\mysql\data. Afterwards I could use mysqld.exe --console command to test the server startup.

Answer 2

Since you used the Windows installer, everything is set up for you to run MySQL 5.7 as a Windows service, which is a great option in most cases.
Instead of running mysqld.exe from the command line,
Win + R
Run services.msc
Right-click on MySQL57
Start the service.

Answer 3

In my case, I had installed the data directory to a different location. So the data directory really wasn't in the default location. Therefore, when I ran the mysqld command from the command prompt, I had to specify the data directory manually:
mysqld --datadir=D:/MySQLData/Data
Here's the documentation for mysqld command-line arguments.

Answer 4

First run
mysqld -u root --initialize-insecure
It will create data folder with root as user without password. Then run
mysqld.exe -u root --console

Answer 5

What I did (Windows 10) for a new installation:
Start cmd in admin mode (run as administrator by hitting windows key, typing cmd, right clicking on it and selecting "Run as Administrator"
Change into "MySQL Server X.Y" directory (for me the full path is C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.7")
using notepad create a my.ini with a mysqld section that points at your data directory
[mysqld]
datadir="X:\Your Directory Path and Name"
created the directory identified in my.ini above.
change into bin Directory under server directory and execute:
mysqld --initialize
Once complete, started the service and it came up fine.

Answer 6

Check that the director exists.
If it exists make sure mysql has access rights on it (read/write). Can be a good idea to run MySQL as a system process, but not mandatory.
If this is stil not working try having the following notation with double slashes: C:\WebSerer\MySQL\data or C:/WebServer/MySQL/data

Answer 7

If you are having this issue and can't find the MySQL service either, just launch "MySQL Installer" from the Start menu (or download it), then choose "Reconfigure" on MySQL Server. Follow the steps to set a root user password and then the service will be created and started automatically (and set to auto-start on boot).

Answer 8

In mysql 8.0.13 zip package initializing.
Verify that data folder is empty.
Under the mysql bin path run
mysqld.exe --initialize-insecure
Add to my.ini native mysql
[mysqld]
default_authentication_plugin=mysql_native_password

Answer 9

When I encountered this same error, I noticed MySQL Configuration file in "C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server X.Y\" has changed to my-default.ini
I solved it by
Copy my.ini from "C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server X.Y\my.ini"
Paste it in "C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server X.Y\my.ini"
Restart MySQL Server from services.msc
In the .ini file, their is part that reads:
# On Windows you should keep this file in the installation directory
# of your server (e.g. C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server X.Y). To
# make sure the server reads the config file use the startup option
# "--defaults-file".

Answer 10

Check your real my.ini file location and set --defaults-file="location" with this command
mysql --defaults-file="C:\MYSQL\my.ini" -u root -p
This solution is permanently for your cmd Screen.

Answer 11

remove all files in "{path-to-mysql}\data" directory and run:
mysqld --initialize-insecure --basedir={path-to-mysql}\mysql --datadir={path-to-mysql}\data --console

Answer 12

I don't know if it's your problem but try this...
For me, the version of my.ini which is created under "ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server [version]" wasn't read. I had to move it to "Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server [version]".
RTS.

Answer 13

If you installed MySQL Server using the Windows installer and as a Window's service, then you can start MySQL Server using PowerShell and experience the convenience of not leaving the command line.
Open PowerShell and run the following command:
Get-Service *sql*
A list of MySQL services will be retrieved and displayed. Choose the one that you want and run the following command while replacing service-name with the actual service name:
Start-Service -Name service-name
Done. You can check that the service is running by running the command Get-Service *sql* again and checking the status of the service.

Answer 14

mariofertc completely solved this for me here are his steps:
Verify mysql's data directory is empty (before you delete it though, save the err file for your records).
Under the mysql bin path run:
mysqld.exe --initialize-insecure
add to my.ini (mysql's configuration file) the following:
[mysqld]
default_authentication_plugin=mysql_native_password
Then check services (via task manager) to make sure MySql is running, if not - right click MySql and start it.
I'll also note, if you don't have your mysql configuration file in the mysql bin and can't find it via the windows search, you will want to look for it in C:\Program Data\Mysql\ Note that it might be a different name other than my.ini, like a template, as Heesu mentions here: Can't find my.ini (mysql 5.7)
Just find the template that matches the version of your mysql via the command mysql --version

Answer 15

This solution uses the windows mysql installer.
I have tried every other way mentioned here and other related posts, but it did not solve my problem, the service just wont start, but the below approach with the mysql-installer did.
If you still have your installer or atleast remember the version then follow below steps:
Start your windows mysql installer. For me it was "mysql-installer-community-8.0.20.0"
Then remove/uninstall the SQL Server and remove all configurations
Manually delete the SQL Server folder from "C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0."
Start your mysql installer again and install the SQL Server again
You can check from the window's services that the MySqL Server has started.
Hope it helps someone.

Answer 16

Check for missing folders that are required by the server, in my case it was UPLOADS folder in programData which was deleted by empty folder cleaner utility that I used earlier.
How did I find out:
run the server config file my.ini(in my case it was in programData) as the defaults-file param for mysqld (don't forget to use --console option to view error log on screen)
'mysqld --defaults-file="C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0\my.ini" --console'
Error:
mysqld: Can't read dir of 'C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0\Uploads\' (OS errno 2 - No such file or directory)
Solution:
Once I manually created the Uploads folder the server started successfully.

Answer 17

In my case, I'm MySQL5.6, install by workbrench install tools in Win10 pro.
there are two configuration file need to modify,
only edit the line: datadir=E:\MySQL
stop MySQL56 service using services.msc
edit my.ini under C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6
edit my-default.ini under C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6
copy C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6*.* to E:\MySQL
start MySQL56 service using services.msc
test: create database 'testdb';
It's successed if found testdb folder exist in E:\MySQL.