MySql service on Windows won't start after changing datadir Tried to change the data directory for a default Windows installation of MySQL. Here's the steps I've taken.


Stopped the MySql service.
Located the data directory of MySql and moved it to another drive, ensuring the path name had no spaces.
Made a copy of the my-default.ini file in C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.7 then renamed it to my.ini and edited it to look like this:



  
    [mysqld]
       datadir = F:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQLServer\Data
  



Copied the contents of the original data folder into this new data folder.
The MySql Service is running under the NETWORK SERVICE user, so I have given this user full control permission on the new folder.
Deleted the original data folder.
MySql Service fails to start, with no useful error messages appearing in the windows event logs.


As far as I know, the MySql error logs are located in the datadir, so it's not much help looking there?

How can I find and fix what I've done wrong?
If You open Windows Services and check the service properties, You will find something like this:

"C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.7\bin\mysqld.exe" --defaults-file="C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.7\my.ini" MySQL57


not enough to change datadir in my.ini file, need also point windows to run service with proper my.ini file