You cannot reliably move a MySQL database by moving the binary files in the MySQL directory. Use the procedure that follows.

Issue
How do I copy or move a MySQL database

Applies to: MySQL

Solution
Unlike Microsoft Access, MySQL databases are not simple files. You cannot reliably move a MySQL database by moving the binary files in the MySQL directory. Use the procedure that follows.

Dump the mysql database to a text file using the mysqldump command. This creates a file with SQL commands to re-create the tables and contents. To use the file, you start the mysql command interface, create and use the database and give the command "source your_filename" which reads and executes the commands from the dump file.

To dump a database: (MacOSX example; Windows has slightly different paths):
   cd /usr/local/mysql/bin
   ./mysqldump golive_samples > ~/Desktop/golive_samples.sql

This writes the database golive_samples into a file called golive_samples.sql on your desktop.

To load the database
   cd /usr/local/mysql/bin
   ./mysql
   create database golive_test
   use golive_test
   source ~/Desktop/golive_samples.sql

This will create a new database called golive_test and create the tables and insert the data that were present in golive_samples.

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