I think the 'mysql' client with MariaDB has a similar problem as it has with MySQL - refer?

MariaDB installer installs my.ini to /datadir - what with MariaDB is a subfolder to /basedir. 

The server will look for it correctly as the registry key defining the service has a --default-file specification.  But the command line clients don't read the registry key.

@Wlad?

-- Peter

-- Webyog