How to reset admin username and password in fedora 3

Shanahan · 05-11-2005, 11:36 AM

New job... New to Linux. The person I am replacing has passed and taken the user name and passwords for a Linux Fedora 3 box with him. Can anyone please instruct me as to how I can reset these?

I found a solution that asks for a boot disk but I can make one unless I get onto the box. Any help would be appreciated.

--Linux Rookie

makuyl · 05-11-2005, 11:53 AM

If it's using lilo: at the liloscreen highlight the kernel, press tab, and type 1 or single to boot into single user mode. Then you can set a new password for root.
For grub you have to search unless someone else posts a solution.

Shanahan · 05-11-2005, 11:59 AM

Sorry, I am not sure how to tell if its lilo or otherwise. I don't even know what lilo is... I am stuck at the login prompt and can't access anyhting on the machine.

makuyl · 05-11-2005, 12:09 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_Loader

You have to reboot the box to be able to boot into single user mode. Alas, you can't give a shutdown command unless you are logged in. The only thing coming to mind is to reboot with:
Alt-SysRq-s
Alt-SysRq-u
Alt-SysRq-b

trickykid · 05-11-2005, 12:35 PM

Please do not post the same thread in more than one forum. Picking the most relevant forum and posting it once there makes it easier for other members to help you and keeps the discussion all in one place.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/rules.php

Tinkster · 05-11-2005, 02:49 PM

closed per the above...