How to reset root password without knowing the old one?

rdelia · 07-26-2006, 01:33 PM

How can I set the root password when I don't know what it was originally? I have Red Hat Linux and nothing else on the box. When I get to the GRUB login, I've tried entering an "E" as was suggested by another user here but I never got the screens he described. I cannot boot to Single User level as the system says I need root access. Please help!

Matir · 07-26-2006, 01:41 PM

Boot from a LiveCD, mount the drive containing /etc, edit /etc/shadow and delete the second field of the line starting with "root:".

rdelia · 07-26-2006, 01:48 PM

What do you mean by a "LiveCD"? I am really NEW at this.

Matir · 07-26-2006, 01:50 PM

Sorry. A LiveCD is a bootable copy of Linux that allows you to run Linux without having to install anything. Knoppix is the original and still has a huge array of tools available.

rdelia · 07-26-2006, 01:56 PM

Where can I get a copy of Knoppix?

Matir · 07-26-2006, 02:17 PM

http://www.knopper.net/knoppix-mirrors/index-en.html

jstephens84 · 07-26-2006, 02:40 PM

You might have some luck with Knoppix std

Matir · 07-26-2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jstephens84

You might have some luck with Knoppix std

Is development of STD still active?

jstephens84 · 07-26-2006, 02:49 PM

Not sure but I came acrossed this site by accdient when one of the companies I do consulting for changed their admin password then forgot it. Will check in to it and post back.

jstephens84 · 07-26-2006, 02:53 PM

From the looks of it their site has activity on it so I am going out on a edge and saying yes they are still active.

Matir · 07-26-2006, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jstephens84

From the looks of it their site has activity on it so I am going out on a edge and saying yes they are still active.

Yeah, I saw the news updates, but I've had a copy of Knoppix-STD 0.1 for quite a while and was wondering if they're going to release an updated version or what.