passwd / shadow issues -- Authentication failed
 

Whats happening is that whenever i try to login with any username, i get Authentication Failed when i use the correct password, and incorrect login when i use the wrong one (duh). I did some searching and found people with similar problems deleting the info between the first two colens on the root line of the /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow files, but i'm only able to boot up using a knoppix cd which doesn't give me write rights to those files. How do i get grub to dump me to a command line where i can get write access or mount my HD with write access under knoppix. I'm running red hat nine, i believe its 2.4.20.8. Thanks

Try booting with a boot disk like tomsrtbt.

Anyone know how to burn that to a bootable cd from either knoppix or windows? I can get it and unpack it, but i am having trouble making a bootable disk as my machine has no floppy.