apache2 - Access denied when trying to re-install lamp - Ask Ubuntu

i'm trying install lamp on ubuntu 16.04. had installed, accidentally locked myself out of lamp trying phpmyadmin working, access denied user 'root'@'localhost' whatever try.

i thought easiest solution uninstall packages installed lamp working. used sudo apt-get purge uninstall packages installed. i'm installing packages again same error when trying install mysql. try: sudo mysql_secure_installation , asks me password root. tried leaving empty, giving passwords think set root, returns access denied message.

trying mysql mysql -u root -p returns access denied message, tried solution creating file create user 'root'@'localhost' identified '<password>'; , running sudo mysqld_safe --init-file=<path_to_file> still receive access denied messages.

i'm thinking there file somewhere information, maybe password, needs. tried lot of other solutions nothing seems work.

edit: investigated further, , tried starting mysql service --skip-grant-tables flag stop checking user privs. when run mysql -u root still tells me error 1045 (28000): access denied user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: no). think problem hasn't password, else.

i managed fix killing mysql processes running: ps aux | grep mysql lists processes , killing them sudo kill -9 [pid]. allowed me start mysqld_safe process --skip-grant-tables flag , allowed me mysql mysql -u root. following further reset password root: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/mysqlpasswordreset

also password column has been changed authentication_string in user table in mysql_server 5.7 (latest version of now).

after doing got installed , can access phpmyadmin now!