MAMP Pro failing to launch (mysql) Issue:
I try to launch MAMP Pro, enter my system password then it sits there trying to connect to MySQL. This has been running fine previously.

Background:
I'm running OSX v10.8.2 and Path Finder crashed, followed by Skype. I did a restart, both those apps were then fine, but MAMP Pro fails to launch.

I've updated MAMP Pro to latest version (v2.1.2), and Googled for solutions, nothing seems to resolve it.

Console shows this:


  18/02/2013 18:35:22.335 coreservicesd[64]: Application App:"System
  Preferences" [ 0x0/0x23023]  @ 0x0x7fde9ad13050 tried to be brought
  forward, but isn't in fPermittedFrontASNs ( ( ASN:0x0-0x22022:) ), so
  denying.
  
  18/02/2013 18:35:22.335 WindowServer[102]: [cps/setfront]
  Failed setting the front application to System Preferences, psn
  0x0-0x23023, securitySessionID=0x186a5, err=-13066 
  
  18/02/2013 18:35:22.418 MAMP PRO[272]: * -[__NSCFString substringFromIndex:]:
  Range or index out of bounds


MySQL log is empty.

I run: ps aux | grep mysqld in terminal (as suggested on numerous sites as a solution to MAMP Pro not starting MySQL), it lists one entry, but the PID continually increases and I can't kill the process via the name mysqld.

I've used Cocktail to purge memory cache and rebuild launch Services database.

I've also tried booting into Safe mode, then restarting (another suggested solution).

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Due to trying to get my local server up and running again, I installed and got working XAMPP, which then had a knock on effect of allowing MAMP Pro to display a decent error message (instead of continually working) and allow the options on the interface to be active again. MySQL was running but Apache couldn't launch. Also, although I could change the settings on the MAMP interface, none would save. looking at permissions and ownership, the app and files were owned by root (but not sure that had any refection on the issue).

@bassplayer7 gave me pointers to the uninstaller (something I didn't know existed), which due to permissions couldn't actually do anything. So I found these excellent instructions:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11855247/mamp-pro-restore-root-user-uninstall
Which cleaned it off completely.

I then did a system restart, re-installed MAMP Pro completely fresh, and it all worked first time. Albeit without any databases, hosts or settings.

You do have backups, right?