Can't find mysql data in install directory

Question

I was looking for my mysql data on my harddrive, so i went to the install directory (C:\ProgrammData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\data) but there are only a few of the databases displayed I actually use. Hidden folders are enabled so far... Is there any other directory I should check?

I know I could look for the my.ini, but I can't find it in the install directory. There is just a my-default.ini, which should be a template for generating the my.ini file at installation it says. I'm running Windows 7 x64...

Answer 1

You need to check the C:\ProgrammData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\

Sample .ini files are placed there in older installations of MySQL 5.

All the .exe files in C:\ProgrammData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\bin expects my.ini to exist in C:\ProgrammData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\. In other words, the full path for my.ini should be C:\ProgrammData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\my.ini. If it does not exist, you can create the my.ini there. I mentioned this location in StackOverflow over a Year ago.

As for the location of the data, you can get that info by running

mysql> SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES LIKE 'datadir';

If that command does not say C:\ProgrammData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\data, then the output given says where mysqld sees the data folder.

If you are interested in changing it.

You should first run

C:\> net stop mysql

Then create or change C:\ProgrammData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\my.ini with all the options you want, such as datadir.

Then, start mysql with

C:\> net start mysql

CAVEAT: You can only run net stop mysql and net start mysql from the command line when you open the DOS Command Line as Administrator.