I was searching for answers,but couldn't find it.

My problem is I forgot root passwd.

So all I know and find out here is:

I have to use MDK cd1,"F1" then type "rescue",then "go to console".After that I type "vi /etc/inittab".Changing to id:1: (used id:3) .Checked runnning vi again-changed succecsfuly.
So know it is changed to runlevel 1. I do ctr+alt+del and Lilo shows up.But then boots Mandrake 9.2 normaly,as before.Login as user and looking to /etc/inittab. Problem is that it is in runlevel 3 again.

Does any one please know where I am wrong?

I'll apprecaite any help.

i copied this from a site. dunno if it'll work.

> 1. Boot the Mandrake Installation CD.
> 2. Press F1 key at the installation splash screen
> 3. At the "boot:" prompt type "rescue". This will boot the "rescue"
> mini-system.
> 4. When the rescue menu comes up, choose "mount your partitions under
> /mnt". Let this execute and you will come back to the rescue menu.
> 5. Choose "Go to console" from the rescue menu.
>
> # cd /mnt/etc
> # vi passwd
>
> Edit the "passwd" and remove the "x" from the root entry line:
> Change:
>
> root:x:root:0:0:/root:/bin/bash
>
> To:
>
> root::root:0:0:/root:/bin/bash
>
> (In vi, the "x" keystroke deletes a character.) Then use ":wq" to
> save the passwd file.
>
> # reboot
>
> 6. Remove the CD as you reboot.
>
> Now you don't have a password for root......... Be sure the set a
> password when you are able to reboot.

Sounds to me like the file you are editing, /etc/inittab, is relative to the tmpfs filesystem that is loaded into ram from your boot cd. the reason it is not saving is because its not writing to the hard disk, but to the RAM, which is flushed on reboot. try this once booted in a console again:

mkdir /tempfix
mount /dev/hda2 /tempfix
cd /tempfix
vi etc/inittab

edit, save, reboot

please note that you must change /dev/hda2 to point to the actual partition with your root file system.

Wow, the solutions thus far seem a lot more complicated than how I'd handle it. You should be able to simply pass an option to your boot loader to boot into single-user mode. If you're using SuSE then this wouldn't be possible, since SuSE asks for your root password to enter single-user mode (more hassle than neccessary imho). If you're using LILO (should be default in Mandrake), then you simply press ESC to get to the text-based screen (versus the graphical selecter) and type "linux 1". For GRUB you press "e" to edit the boot options and append the middle line with "single" (or a number might work as well).

Once you're booted into single-user mode you can then run "passwd" to change your root password :-).

I tried your recommendation and it works awsome!Using Lilo. thanks a lot.It works perfect.Great!!!!!

I appreciate your help,

WannaLearnLinux

Thanx for replying.But I tried what guy after you replied and it works.Yours probalby works too.

Thanx a lot.

I Appreciate your helping