Q:

"Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2)")

I am using mysqldb (the python MySQL) module..
But everytime I try to run.  it gives me this error. 
   super(Connection, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs2)
_mysql_exceptions. OperationalError: (2002, "Can't connect to local MySQL server through     socket '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2)")

I think the issue is multiple mysql installed.. but I am no mysql expert.. actually besides python.. assume i have a very minimal knowledge of OS.. mysql.or any other thing, :)
I have also installed XAMPP on ubuntu.. and everytime i start the xampp module
But before I start the xampp server..
I always do the following..
sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop (this is my clue that there is another mysql installed :D )

To start the XAMPP local host I do the following
sudo /opt/lampp/lampp start

And the error says
_mysql_exceptions. OperationalError: (2002, "Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2)")

I am elaborating on all of the above just to demonstrate where the paths of what is relevant to solve this thing lives..
Can you please help me out. 
Thanks. 
EDIT
ps -ax 

rreturns follwoing:
Warning: bad ps syntax, perhaps a bogus '-'?  See http://procps.sf.net/faq.html
PID TTY      STAT   TIME COMMAND
1 ?         Ss     0:01 /sbin/init
2 ?         S      0:00 [kthreadd]
3 ?         S      1:45 [ksoftirqd/0]
6 ?         S      0:00 [migration/0]
17 ?         S<     0:00 [cpuset]
18 ?         S<     0:00 [khelper]
19 ?         S<     0:00 [netns]
21 ?         S      0:00 [sync_supers]
22 ?         S      0:00 [bdi-default]
23 ?         S<     0:00 [kintegrityd]
24 ?         S<     0:00 [kblockd]
25 ?         S<     0:00 [kacpid]
26 ?         S<     0:00 [kacpi_notify]
27 ?         S<     0:00 [kacpi_hotplug]
28 ?         S<     0:00 [ata_sff]
29 ?         S      0:00 [khubd]
30 ?         S<     0:00 [md]
34 ?         S      0:00 [khungtaskd]
35 ?         S      0:01 [kswapd0]
36 ?         SN     0:00 [ksmd]
37 ?         S      0:00 [fsnotify_mark]
38 ?         S<     0:00 [aio]
39 ?         S      0:00 [ecryptfs-kthrea]
40 ?         S<     0:00 [crypto]
44 ?         S<     0:00 [kthrotld]
46 ?         S      0:00 [scsi_eh_0]
47 ?         S      0:05 [scsi_eh_1]
48 ?         S<     0:00 [kmpathd]
49 ?         S<     0:00 [kmpath_handlerd]
50 ?         S<     0:00 [kondemand]
51 ?         S<     0:00 [kconservative]
219 ?         S      0:00 [scsi_eh_2]
220 ?         S      0:48 [usb-storage]
253 ?         S      0:12 [jbd2/sda6-8]
254 ?         S<     0:00 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
307 ?         S      0:00 upstart-udev-bridge --daemon
313 ?         S<s    0:00 udevd --daemon
549 ?         S      0:00 upstart-socket-bridge --daemon
678 ?         S<     0:00 [hci0]
698 ?         S<     0:00 [hd-audio0]
   `727 ?         S<     0:00 [hd-audio1]
  729 ?         S<     0:00 [applesmc-led]
  775 ?         Ss     0:00 smbd -F
  778 ?         Ss     0:00 /usr/sbin/sshd -D
  784 ?         Sl     0:00 rsyslogd -c4
  792 ?         S      0:00 smbd -F
  796 ?         Ss     0:20 dbus-daemon --system --fork --activation=upstart
  807 ?         Ssl    0:16 NetworkManager
  814 ?         S      0:00 /usr/sbin/modem-manager
  817 ?         Sl     0:03 /usr/lib/policykit-1/polkitd
  854 ?         S      0:03 /sbin/wpa_supplicant -u -s
  873 tty4     Ss+    0:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty4
  877 tty5     Ss+    0:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty5
  883 tty2     Ss+    0:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty2
  884 tty3     Ss+    0:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty3
  888 tty6     Ss+    0:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty6
  900 ?         Ss     0:00 acpid -c /etc/acpi/events -s /var/run/acpid.socket
  914 ?         Ss     0:13 /usr/sbin/irqbalance
  928 ?         Ss     0:00 cron
  929 ?         Ss     0:00 atd
  931 ?         Ss     0:00 /usr/sbin/bluetoothd --udev
  946 ?         S<     0:00 [l2cap]
  978 ?         Ssl    0:00 gdm-binary
  982 ?         Sl     0:01 /usr/sbin/console-kit-daemon --no-daemon
 1079 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/gdm/gdm-simple-slave --display-id /org/gnome/DisplayManager/Display1
 1087 ?         S<     0:00 [krfcommd]
 1088 ?         Ss     0:00 /usr/sbin/cupsd -F
 1164 tty7     Ss+   42:06 /usr/bin/X :0 -nr -verbose -auth /var/run/gdm/auth-for-gdm-pkvNFp/database -nolisten tcp vt
 1200 ?         S      0:11 [flush-8:0]
 1314 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/gdm/gdm-session-worker
 1320 ?         Sl     0:22 /usr/lib/upower/upowerd
 1324 ?         SNl    0:00 /usr/lib/rtkit/rtkit-daemon
 1431 ?         Ss     0:08 nmbd -D
 1490 tty1     Ss+    0:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty1
 1496 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon --daemonize --login
 1515 ?         Ssl    0:00 gnome-session --session=ubuntu
 1548 ?         Ss     0:00 /usr/bin/ssh-agent /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session --session=ubuntu
 1551 ?         S      0:00 /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session --session=ubuntu
 1552 ?         Ss     1:00 //bin/dbus-daemon --fork --print-pid 5 --print-address 7 --session
 1557 ?         S      0:33 /usr/lib/libgconf2-4/gconfd-2
 1566 ?         Ssl    0:35 /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon/gnome-settings-daemon
 1572 ?         S      0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd
 1575 ?         Sl    36:41 compiz
 1579 ?         Ssl    0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs//gvfs-fuse-daemon /home/mohit/.gvfs
 1584 ?         Ssl    5:19 /usr/bin/pulseaudio --start --log-target=syslog
 1586 ?         Sl     3:04 nautilus
 1587 ?         Sl     0:02 /usr/lib/policykit-1-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1
 1589 ?         SLl    0:19 nm-applet --sm-disable
 1590 ?         Sl     0:02 zeitgeist-datahub
 1591 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/evolution/2.32/evolution-alarm-notify
 1597 ?         Sl     0:17 gnome-power-manager
 1598 ?         Sl     0:00 bluetooth-applet
 1601 ?         Sl     0:03 /usr/bin/python /usr/bin/zeitgeist-daemon
 1619 ?         S      0:00 /bin/cat
 1621 ?         Sl     0:20 /usr/lib/notify-osd/notify-osd
 1627 ?         Sl     0:03 /usr/lib/evolution/e-calendar-factory
 1629 ?         S      0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-trash --spawner :1.11 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/0
 1637 ?         Z      0:00 [zeitgeist-datah] <defunct>
 1649 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/pulseaudio/pulse/gconf-helper
 1653 ?         S      0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gdu-volume-monitor
 1656 ?         Sl     0:01 /usr/lib/udisks/udisks-daemon
 1657 ?         S      0:14 udisks-daemon: polling /dev/sr0 /dev/sdb
 1661 ?         S      0:31 syndaemon -i 0.5 -k -R
 1665 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-afc-volume-monitor
 1668 ?         S      0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gphoto2-volume-monitor
 1673 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/d-conf/dconf-service
 1683 ?         Ss     0:00 /bin/sh -c /usr/bin/compiz-decorator
 1684 ?         Sl     0:35 /usr/bin/unity-window-decorator
 1687 ?         Sl     4:22 /usr/lib/unity/unity-panel-service
 1698 ?         S      0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-metadata
 1700 ?         S      0:25 /usr/lib/bamf/bamfdaemon
 1704 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/indicator-session/indicator-session-service
 1709 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/indicator-messages/indicator-messages-service
 1719 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/indicator-sound/indicator-sound-service
 1720 ?         Sl     0:04 /usr/lib/indicator-application/indicator-application-service
 1721 ?         Sl     0:05 /usr/lib/indicator-datetime/indicator-datetime-service
 1722 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/indicator-me/indicator-me-service
 1746 ?         Sl     0:01 /usr/lib/geoclue/geoclue-master
 1752 ?         S      0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-burn --spawner :1.11 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/1
 1825 ?         Sl     0:07 /usr/bin/gnome-screensaver --no-daemon
 1834 ?         S      0:00 /usr/lib/gnome-disk-utility/gdu-notification-daemon
 1876 ?         S      0:09 /usr/bin/python /usr/share/system-config-printer/applet.py
 1883 ?         Sl     0:06 update-notifier
 1917 ?         Sl     0:02 /usr/lib/unity-place-applications/unity-applications-daemon
 1919 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/unity-place-files/unity-files-daemon
 1944 ?         SLl    7:08 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromium-browser
 1946 ?         S      0:09 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromium-browser
 1948 ?         S      0:00 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromium-browser --type=zygote
 1975 ?         Sl     8:46 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromium-browser --type=renderer --lang=en-US --force-fieldtest=C
 1998 ?         Sl    17:59 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromium-browser --type=plugin --plugin-path=/usr/lib/flashplugin
 2243 ?         S      0:00 /usr/bin/python /usr/lib/system-service/system-service-d
10495 ?         S<     0:00 [xfs_mru_cache]
10497 ?         S<     0:00 [xfslogd]
10498 ?         S<     0:00 [xfsdatad]
10499 ?         S<     0:00 [xfsconvertd]
10505 ?         S      0:00 [jfsIO]
10506 ?         S      0:00 [jfsCommit]
10507 ?         S      0:00 [jfsCommit]
10508 ?         S      0:00 [jfsCommit]
10509 ?         S      0:00 [jfsCommit]
10510 ?         S      0:00 [jfsSync]
12826 ?         Sl     1:35 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromium-browser --type=renderer --lang=en-US --force-fieldtest=C
13020 ?         S      0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-http --spawner :1.11 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/2
20440 ?         S      0:05 avahi-daemon: running [mohit-MacBookPro.local]
20441 ?         S      0:00 avahi-daemon: chroot helper
24799 ?         Sl     1:14 /usr/lib/libreoffice/program/soffice.bin -calc /home/mohit/Documents/vmf/VMF Test Reports/p
24900 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-network --spawner :1.11 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/5
24904 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-smb-browse --spawner :1.11 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/6
24910 ?         S      0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-dnssd --spawner :1.11 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/7
25340 ?         SNl    0:09 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromium-browser --type=renderer --lang=en-US --force-fieldtest=C
25357 ?         SNl    0:04 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromium-browser --type=renderer --lang=en-US --force-fieldtest=C
25772 ?         S      0:00 /usr/lib/postgresql/8.4/bin/postgres -D /var/lib/postgresql/8.4/main -c config_file=/etc/po
25774 ?         Ss     0:07 postgres: writer process                                                                  
25775 ?         Ss     0:05 postgres: wal writer process                                                              
25776 ?         Ss     0:01 postgres: autovacuum launcher process                                                     
25777 ?         Ss     0:01 postgres: stats collector process                                                         
25863 ?         Sl     0:14 gnome-terminal
25868 ?         S      0:00 gnome-pty-helper
25869 pts/0    Ss+    0:00 bash
25928 ?         Sl    16:19 /usr/lib/firefox-8.0/firefox
25966 ?         Sl     2:47 /usr/lib/firefox-8.0/plugin-container /usr/lib/flashplugin-installer/libflashplayer.so -gre
26057 pts/1    Ss     0:00 bash
26190 pts/2    Ss+    0:00 bash
26606 ?         S      0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-computer --spawner :1.11 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/8
27198 ?         S      0:00 [migration/1]
27200 ?         S      0:07 [ksoftirqd/1]
27201 ?         S      0:00 [migration/2]
27203 ?         S      0:00 [ksoftirqd/2]
27204 ?         S      0:00 [migration/3]
27206 ?         S      0:00 [ksoftirqd/3]
27225 ?         S      0:00 [kworker/u:44]
27226 ?         S      0:00 [kworker/u:45]
27251 ?         S      0:01 [kworker/2:0]
27252 ?         S      0:00 [kworker/3:1]
27317 ?         Sl     1:42 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromium-browser --type=renderer --lang=en-US --force-fieldtest=C
27429 ?         SNl    0:05 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromium-browser --type=renderer --lang=en-US --force-fieldtest=C
27466 ?         SNl    0:05 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromium-browser --type=renderer --lang=en-US --force-fieldtest=C
27560 ?         SNl    0:21 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromium-browser --type=renderer --lang=en-US --force-fieldtest=C
27607 ?         SNl    0:07 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromium-browser --type=renderer --lang=en-US --force-fieldtest=C
27657 ?         S      0:00 /sbin/dhclient -d -4 -sf /usr/lib/NetworkManager/nm-dhcp-client.action -pf /var/run/dhclien
27681 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/evolution/e-addressbook-factory
27686 ?         S      0:00 /usr/lib/telepathy/mission-control-5
27688 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/telepathy/telepathy-logger
28186 ?         S      0:00 /usr/sbin/usbmuxd -u -U usbmux
28187 ?         S<     0:00 udevd --daemon
28188 ?         S<     0:00 udevd --daemon
28196 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-afc --spawner :1.11 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/9
28200 ?         Sl     0:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-afc --spawner :1.11 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/10
28212 ?         S      0:02 [kworker/1:0]
28864 pts/3    Ss     0:00 bash
28923 pts/3    T      0:00 sudo easy_install Flasj
28927 pts/3    T      0:00 /usr/bin/python /usr/bin/easy_install Flasj
28992 ?         Sl     0:02 file-roller /home/mohit/Downloads/Archive.zip
29044 pts/5    Ss+    0:00 bash
29142 ?         Sl     0:00 file-roller /home/mohit/Downloads/Archive (1).zip
29152 ?         Sl     0:02 file-roller /home/mohit/Downloads/Archive (1).zip
29185 ?         S      0:01 [kworker/0:3]
29243 ?         S      0:00 [kworker/0:1]
29251 pts/2    T      0:00 python
29271 pts/1    Sl+    0:09 ./sublime_text
29507 pts/5    T      0:00 sudo /etc/init.d/mysql start
29509 pts/5    T      0:00 /bin/sh -e /etc/init.d/mysql start
29513 pts/5    T      0:00 start mysql
29562 ?         SNl    0:09 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromium-browser --type=renderer --lang=en-US --force-fieldtest=C
29632 ?         S      0:00 [kworker/2:2]
29633 ?         S      0:00 [kworker/3:0]
30030 pts/0    T      0:00 sudo chown mysql:root /var/run/mysqld
30148 ?         S      0:00 [kworker/1:3]
30997 ?         S      0:00 [kworker/1:1]
31015 ?         S      0:00 [kworker/0:2]
31812 ?         S      0:00 [kworker/1:2]
31853 ?         S      0:00 [kworker/0:0]
32315 pts/5    T      0:00 sudo /etc/init.d/mysql start
32316 pts/5    T      0:00 /bin/sh -e /etc/init.d/mysql start
32320 pts/5    T      0:00 start mysql
32356 pts/3    R+     0:00 ps -ax

A:

Aaghh a stupid overlooking of facts on my part.. 
In the question I did said that I am stopping the default mysql.. before starting the xampp mysql..
but forgot to restart it.. 
and unfortunately 
/etc/init.d/mysql start

wont work
you have to do
/etc/init.d/mysql restart

