VERY ODD mysql error

[morbidpalooza.com]

root@box:/home/mmike# sudo /etc/init.d/mysql start
Starting MySQL database server: mysqld...failed.
        Please take a look at the syslog.
/usr/bin/mysqladmin: connect to server at 'localhost' failed
error: 'Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2)'
Check that mysqld is running and that the socket: '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' exists!

what am I dooing wrong? am I starting it right?

[malaire]

I get that same error with Knoppix 4.0.2 CD.
Also, if I try sudo mysqld I get error mysqld: unknown variable 'old_passwords=1' which clearly says where the problem is.

Solution is to comment out line "old_passwords = 1" in /etc/mysql/my.cnf and try sudo /etc/init.d/mysql start again.

[morbidpalooza.com]

I get that same error with Knoppix 4.0.2 CD.
Also, if I try sudo mysqld I get error mysqld: unknown variable 'old_passwords=1' which clearly says where the problem is.

Solution is to comment out line "old_passwords = 1" in /etc/mysql/my.cnf and try sudo /etc/init.d/mysql start again.

THank you SOOOO much works great now!