OS: MS Windows 10
MySQL: Developer Computer configuration 8.0
Other: Custom path install, configured to NOT work as a service
Considerations: The software was recently installed, and ran properly when it was started through the installer. Nothing was changed on the installation of the software, but the host has been restarted
Issue: MySQL server will not start through the Workbench, and running
%MYSQL_HOME%\bin\mysqld.exe
will generate issue with missing data directory. If this data directory is not the correct %Program Data% specified, this means that the mysqld.exe does not have access to configuration file
my.ini
Solution: Place a copy of file my.ini in the root directory of Windows
(ie "C:\Windows").
Execute mysqld.exe once again and minimize its terminal
SOURCE: https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.5/en/windows-troubleshooting.html
