Mysql: Force drop mysql bypassing foreign key constraint

I'm trying to delete all tables from a database except one, and I end up having the 

following error:

Cannot delete or update a parent row: a foreign key constraint fails

Of course I could trial and error to see what those key constraints are and eventually delete 

all tables but I'd like to know if there is a fast way to force drop all tables (as I'll be able 

to re-insert those I don't want deleted).

Google aimed me at some site that suggested the following method:

mysql> SET foreign_key_checks = 0;
mysql> drop table ...
mysql> SET foreign_key_checks = 1;

Short answer is it didn't really do the trick since I ended up receiving the same error while

 I was able to delete some more tables. I've seen on ways to get all foreign keys linked to 

a certain table but that's way too time consuming unless I script it all (which is doable in 

the case there is no other option)

Database is 4.1 so I can't use DROP DATABASE

Ideas?

 Answers

Since you are not interested in keeping any data, drop the entire database and create a 

new one.

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If you are using phpmyadmin then this feature is already there.

• Select the tables you want to drop
• From the dropdown at the bottom of tables list, select drop

• A new page will be opened having checkbox at the bottom saying "Foreign key check", uncheck it.

• Confirm the deletion by accepting "yes".

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Drop database exist in all versions of MySQL. But if you want to keep the table structure, 

here is an idea

mysqldump --no-data --add-drop-database --add-drop-table -hHOSTNAME -uUSERNAME -p > dump.sql

This is a program, not a mysql command

Then, log into mysql and

source dump.sql;