OT Linux Root Password

Yahoo Archive
1
Lois,

No big deal. Assuming you are running a newer distro, you probably use
GRUB for your bootloader. All you have to do to reset your root
password is boot into Linux single user mode. You can boot into single
user mode by selecting the kernel you want, hitting 'e' to edit it, then
move the cursor to the line that specifies the kernel, hit 'e' again,
and place 'single' at the end of the line. Hit return, then 'b' to boot
the current kernel. Now you'll dump out to a console (automatically
logged in as root) and type passwd to change your password.

Just give a shout if you run into any snags,
AE

On Wed, 2003-09-17 at 13:52, lois_heisey wrote:

> Just getting started on getting acclamated to Linux. Built box 2
> months ago and cant remember root password. Simply stated, how can I
> assign a new password or recover it, short of doing a rebuild? Your
> help is appreciated.
>




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
2
Just getting started on getting acclamated to Linux. Built box 2
months ago and cant remember root password. Simply stated, how can I
assign a new password or recover it, short of doing a rebuild? Your
help is appreciated.
3
How funny you ask this. I *just* went through this this week. It took me
2 weeks to get this much and it worked for me. (I run slackware)
What to type at the prompt is within the 's. My comments are in the ( )'s

Power cycle your machine and at the boot prompt type 'linux init=/bin/sh'
(This allows you to log into linux with root access without needing the
root password)
At prompt 'passwd root' (this will change the password for the root user)
(If you are as lucky as I was when try this you will get an error saying
you can't for some reason. If you can change the root pass here, then you
are done. Reboot and boot linux as normal with the new pass you created.
If you get an error saying you can't change pass then try this)
Still at the init=/sbin/sh prompt type 'pico /etc/shadow' (this should
bring you to the pico editor and you are editing the shadow file. At the
very top of the file you will see root :with a ton of garbage within the
colons: You need to delete all the garage between the two colons. You
should be left with root :: That garage is the encrypted version of your
pass.)
Once you have done that, save the file and reboot. Your root password
should now be blank. (just hit enter when prompted for pass) Then you can
passwd root to change it to something you won't forget.

Good luck!


Jim MacMillan
IT Manager
AR Manager
Synergy Manufacturing
303-790-9200

-----Original Message-----
From: lois_heisey [SMTP:lheisey@...]
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 11:53 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] OT Linux Root Password

Just getting started on getting acclamated to Linux. Built box 2
months ago and cant remember root password. Simply stated, how can I
assign a new password or recover it, short of doing a rebuild? Your
help is appreciated.



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