[root@localhost root]# mysql -u root
ERROR 2002 (HY000): Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2)
[root@localhost root]# mysqld
041105 6:39:52 [ERROR] Can't find messagefile '/usr/share/mysql/english/errmsg.sys'
041105 6:39:52 [ERROR] Aborting
[root@localhost tmp]# ls
file-roller.16014.0 gnome-print-VVJ49S tmpN4Z2tz.hdr xses-root.llXqrK
gconfd-root gnome-print-X5Npb6 tmpoyNLrp.hdr xses-root.NwVLGc
gnome-print-1WPfCW gnome-print-Z4o5ar tmpPx7WSx.hdr xses-root.qjXw7A
gnome-print-6TZjMy keyring-Bidkw4 xses-root.1bxBih xses-root.rn1M36
gnome-print-amU2pG keyring-pOp3uC xses-root.5Z5eBi xses-root.S4JVZG
gnome-print-CvKD8Y mapping-root xses-root.7yN0wr xses-root.sgWeNa
gnome-print-Dp23oe orbit-root xses-root.95CjPP xses-root.sVzIG9
gnome-print-ehwmXv ssh-AAJo2622 xses-root.BddzM9 xses-root.uDLzjL
gnome-print-Fzp4Lk tmp2gEGIV.hdr xses-root.EeK3tb xses-root.wcBjS7
gnome-print-LbFp4R tmpb7pJoi.hdr xses-root.eq2Srb xses-root.xGMbkP
gnome-print-qbXcza tmpEezmCw.hdr xses-root.FTN0Rf
gnome-print-SYNEhn tmpKvRt25.hdr xses-root.LckB4m
find / -name errmsg.sys
sounds like your install is missing files