Mysql5 password reset

Hello: I recently forgot my mysql password. When following the instructions on mysql.com to reset it I was able to stop the mysqld daemon through launchctl, but when I started mysqld manually with the skip grant tables option it complained about being unable to lock files and became a runaway process that did not respond to keyboard input. Thank you, Watson Ladd -- They who would give up essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty or Safety --Benjamin Franklin