Recover MySQL from files

This is how I recovered my databases from a HD crash using Mac OS X. These included both MyISAM and InnoDB tables.

1. Get the files, typically from a backup or booting into your machine/server in recovery mode, usually located @ /var/lib/mysql
2. Read (if you own this file) mysql_upgrade_info, so you see which mysql version created the files.
3. Install the same version in your machine. If needed, uninstall whatever exists (if you don’t need it, of course):

brew remove mysql

4. Install the closest mysql version to that you found in mysql_upgrade_info (or whatever you guess is the version). See the available formulas and do it:

brew search mysql
brew install mysql@5.5

5. I installed myself version 5.5, which is the one I needed.
6. Now locate the place where the local files reside, typically @ /usr/local/var/mysql
7. Zip this folder as a backup measure and remove all of its contents.
8. Move inside all the files and folders you got in step 1.
9. Launch mysql:

/usr/local/opt/mysql@5.5/bin/mysql.server start

10. Connect and mysqldump whatever you need.