entries in etc/shadow file appear then disappear

urcitydoc · 08-28-2015, 04:31 PM

these entries in etc/shadow file appear then disappear is that normal

td1:16487:0:99999:7:::
zs0:16487:0:99999:7:::

the first one appears right under root
the last appears at the end under the user account
when i cat /etc/shadow in the terminal sometimes it is there and then disappears then i can open another terminal window and its there again. is it normal?

im using debian wheezy
i have searched on the internet and cant find a thing

jpollard · 08-29-2015, 06:11 AM

Actually, it sounds like odd characters in the login name.

Do they show up in an editor that can show binary escape sequences?

You might also check the passwd file as well.

urcitydoc · 08-31-2015, 10:19 AM

im just learning linux
in the terminal the entries are showing up now but when i use nano to look they are missing from the shadow file

also they are not in the etc/passwd file

jpollard · 08-31-2015, 10:34 AM

You might try "cat -v /etc/shadow" to see if there are some odd characters which is what I expect.

urcitydoc · 08-31-2015, 12:33 PM

it printed in the terminal normally but with those entries but nano does not show them

jpollard · 08-31-2015, 12:36 PM

nano might not.

The problem appears to be that you have some non-printable characters in the file. When the editor goes to display it the escape sequences (or just a \r character) are doing something to the display.

urcitydoc · 08-31-2015, 02:14 PM

what editor should i use to display it

jpollard · 08-31-2015, 02:59 PM

vi/vim can do it:

http://stupidunixlinuxtricks.blogspo...ers-in-vi.html

urcitydoc · 08-31-2015, 03:59 PM

in the terminal and vi the entries are there but in nano they are missing.
but there does not seem to be any special characters in the user names
and it does not explain why in one terminal window they were there and another they were gone a few days ago