title: MySQL Workbench Will not connect to localhost. "Database server instance is unknown"
body: <p>My MySQL Workbench is not connecting to my local host, and I cannot figure out why exactly it is reacting like this. It just started doing this one day, and randomly it will give me access although it says it is still "unknown", but I am tired of this and would like to fix it. </p>
  
  <p>Since this website reqires that I have a "10" reputation to post images, I will have to describe it. </p>
  
  <p>On the Startup/Shutdown tab in the administration page, it says:</p>
  
  <p>The database server instance is unknown. --The "Start Server" button is faded out so that I cannot click it. </p>
  
  <p>Startup Message Log
  2013-07-11 08:57:51 - Workbench will use cmd shell commands to start/stop this instance</p>
  
  <p>2013-07-11 08:57:51 - Status check of service 'MySQL' returned error: Not found</p>
  
  <p>2013-07-11 08:57:51 - Status check of service 'MySQL' returned error: Not found</p>
  
  <p>2013-07-11 09:00:55 - Status check of service 'MySQL' returned error: Not found</p>
  
  <p>2013-07-11 09:00:55 - Status check of service 'MySQL' returned error: Not found</p>
  
  <p>2013-07-11 09:02:01 - Status check of service 'MySQL' returned error: Not found</p>
  
  <p>Then on the server status tab in the administration page, it says:</p>
  
  <p>Name: mysqld@localhost
  host: localhost
  server:unknown
  status: unknown</p>
  
  <p>Connection
  There is no connection to the MySQL server. This functionality requires an established connection to a running MySQL server to work. </p>
  
  <p>If anyone can help out, that would be great!</p>
  
  <p>Thanks</p>