MySQL - "Root Element is Missing"

Something has happened to the MySQL server installation on my computer. Normally, the MySQL notifier program, which is supposed to start automatically and run in the system tray has stopped starting up automatically, and instead throws these two errors in order of appearance below. When I try so start it on my own, these two errors are thrown again. How can I resolve this issue without losing my data and if possible, my configuration settings as well? I do not care if I have to reinstall MySQL as long as I can at the very least retain my data.

Solution 1:

I was able to fix the problem with MySQL by deleting settings.config, stored in %appdata%\Oracle\MySQL Notifier. When I restarted MySQL Notifier, the file was automatically regenerated, and guess what? It worked! I found the solution online after hours of searching. Before deleting the old file, I took a screenshot of it open in Notepad++...

Click on image to see full screen version...

After the new one was generated, I opened it up and took a screenshot of it as well. The difference between the two files is rather obvious...

Click on image to see full screen version...

Solution 2:

I, too, ran across this problem on my local install of MySQL Notifier, and neither deleting settings.config, nor reinstalling had any effect. Further investigation lead me to a file in the same folder with the name connections.xml that only contained a single space character. Deleting that file and restarting the notifier did the trick, though, so if (like me) deleting settings.config doesn't correct the problem, look for connections.xml, and inspect that file for possible problems, deleting when necessary.

Solution 3:

Actually you should remove settings.config and also connections.xml from C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Oracle\MySQL Notifier\ And Start over MySQLNotifier. It worked for me (I have a Windows 7 64bit) but it should work on Win 8 too