In most of the cases I know it only requires to set a new password - hashed by the new MySQL method - for the MySQL database. The MySQL password hashing method has been improved starting with 4.1 I think. http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/password-hashing.html Section Compatibility Issues Related to Hashing Methods So be /courageous /and simply set a new password as explained on the page Make sure - I guess you have - to have a dump of your database(s). You will see that once you have replaced the "old" Password (password hashed by the old method) by a (new or the same) password using the new hash method, it will work. Disclaimer: make sure to have valid database dump(s).