MySQL is running, but I can't connect -- PLEASE HELP

[Mark Adams]

I really need some help with this. MySQL will not start on boot despite
everything I've done to make sure that it is set to do so.

When I start it as root from a terminal with "/usr/bin/mysqld_safe
--skip-grant-tables &" I show several mysqld procs. and one mysqld_safe,
but I can't connect:

[root@adamsmdk madams]# ps -aux| grep mysql
Warning: bad syntax, perhaps a bogus '-'? See http://procps.sf.net/faq.html
root 3650 0.0 0.1 2276 664 ? S 11:09 0:00
/usr/lib/courier/authlib/authdaemond.mys ql start
root 3654 0.0 0.1 2316 792 ? S 11:09 0:00
/usr/lib/courier/authlib/authdaemond.mys ql start
root 3655 0.0 0.1 2276 664 ? S 11:09 0:00
/usr/lib/courier/authlib/authdaemond.mys ql start
root 3656 0.0 0.1 2276 664 ? S 11:09 0:00
/usr/lib/courier/authlib/authdaemond.mys ql start
root 3657 0.0 0.1 2316 792 ? S 11:09 0:00
/usr/lib/courier/authlib/authdaemond.mys ql start
root 3658 0.0 0.1 2316 792 ? S 11:09 0:00
/usr/lib/courier/authlib/authdaemond.mys ql start
root 20375 0.0 0.2 2456 1256 pts/0 S 11:13 0:00 /bin/sh
/usr/bin/mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables
mysql 20419 0.0 0.7 283724 4116 pts/0 S 11:13 0:00
/usr/sbin/mysqld --basedir=/ --datadir=/var/lib/mysql --user=mysql
--pid-file=/var/lib/mysql/adamsmdk.pid --skip-locking --skip-grant-tables
mysql 20420 0.0 0.7 283724 4116 pts/0 S 11:13 0:00
/usr/sbin/mysqld --basedir=/ --datadir=/var/lib/mysql --user=mysql
--pid-file=/var/lib/mysql/adamsmdk.pid --skip-locking --skip-grant-tables
mysql 20421 0.0 0.7 283724 4116 pts/0 S 11:13 0:00
/usr/sbin/mysqld --basedir=/ --datadir=/var/lib/mysql --user=mysql
--pid-file=/var/lib/mysql/adamsmdk.pid --skip-locking --skip-grant-tables
root 20970 0.0 0.1 1828 608 pts/0 R 11:23 0:00 grep mysql

There is no mysql.sock

root@adamsmdk madams]# mysql
ERROR 2002: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket
'/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2)

Attempting to stop mysql is also difficult:

[root@adamsmdk madams]# /etc/rc.d/init.d/mysql stop
Stopping MySQL Server
[FAILED]

[root@adamsmdk madams]# mysqld stop
040106 11:38:45 Can't start server: Bind on TCP/IP port: Address
already in use
040106 11:38:45 Do you already have another mysqld server running on
port: 3306 ?
040106 11:38:45 Aborting

040106 11:38:45 mysqld: Shutdown Complete

[root@adamsmdk madams]# ps -aux|grep mysql
Warning: bad syntax, perhaps a bogus '-'? See http://procps.sf.net/faq.html
root 20375 0.0 0.2 2456 1256 pts/0 S 11:13 0:00 /bin/sh
/usr/bin/mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables
mysql 20419 0.0 0.7 283724 4116 pts/0 S 11:13 0:00
/usr/sbin/mysqld --basedir=/ --datadir=/var/lib/mysql --user=mysql
--pid-file=/var/lib/mysql/adamsmdk.pid --skip-locking --skip-grant-tables
mysql 20420 0.0 0.7 283724 4116 pts/0 S 11:13 0:00
/usr/sbin/mysqld --basedir=/ --datadir=/var/lib/mysql --user=mysql
--pid-file=/var/lib/mysql/adamsmdk.pid --skip-locking --skip-grant-tables
mysql 20421 0.0 0.7 283724 4116 pts/0 S 11:13 0:00
/usr/sbin/mysqld --basedir=/ --datadir=/var/lib/mysql --user=mysql
--pid-file=/var/lib/mysql/adamsmdk.pid --skip-locking --skip-grant-tables
root 21270 0.0 0.1 1828 608 pts/0 R 11:39 0:00 grep mysql

How do I get control of this thing? What's wrong with it? I've
uninstalled and reinstalled mysql and all it's accompanying stuff twice.

Please make a suggestion.

Mark