mysql login problem.

I seem to have a problem with loggin into mysql!
this morning, i tried to log into mysql like usual through phpMyAdmin-2.5.3 i got an error, says it couldn't authenticate me?
so i tried to log in directly using the command line. didn't work..
so i had to specify that i am root, then password..
that worked..
so now, i'm logged in..
then for some reason, i thought that i should change the password.. it was in encrypted format.. so it was illegible.. but when i changed it.. it didn't look like it was encrypted.. it was exactly the same as i had typed.

so i didn't think anything of it.. i thought it would update itself when i restarted..
now, it looks like the password that i typed in is the un-decrypted name? if you know what i mean..

and exited restarted mysqld and tried to log in again..
now i can't log in to mysql on the command line.. or any other way?
how can i go in and change the password back, or make it have no passwords??
anything?
what should i do?