I obtained this old tower from a relative, and she gave me the OS disk, but it came with two, "xubuntu 6.04" and "kubuntu 7.10". she thinks it xubuntu, but isnt really sure, but im going to say it is for now, back to the problem, when i boot up the computer it comes to a screen that looks like this.

Type the password and ...
-- press <ENTER> to leave password security enabled.
-- press <CTRL><ENTER> to disable password security.
Enter password:

but i dont know the password and desperatly need to get into the computer. can anyone help?

Boot into init 1 and set it to whatever you feel like. On the grub boot screen, hit e and then add a "1" to the kernel options libe, then b to boot.

You know that sounds like it might work, but i probably should have added i have never in my life used linux before, can you be more detailed if you dont mind? thanks.

Well that should be fairly self explanatory, erm ok...

http://www.labtestproject.com/linuse..._password.html

That link is for fedora, but is pretty similar for Ubuntu if I recall correctly. The only big difference would be what the very first screen looks like, as it can be customized quite extensively.

From my perspective though, I don't recognise the screen you initially describe as I don't use ubuntu extensively, but ubuntu doesn't use root passwords routinely, so actually changing the root password quite likley won't help you.

Why are you even trying to get in? It's a system you've inherited, and you're not trying to fix it for someone else, why not just nuke it and start again with whatever you want?

thats sounds like a good idea, i think i will nuke it, how do you do that? simple command?

He means to install a new operating system. Just put in the disk of the one you want and wipe what is there (hence the "nuke" as in "blow up" what is installed already. Also those are very outdated versions of Ubuntu and/or kubuntu.

Ok i am probably the most annoying person on this site but now theres another problem, im not exactly sure if this linux was installed correctly because when i start up my computer, it shows the screen i listed in the first post almost instantly with no time too get too system startup to boot from disc, so, is there anyway to boot the disc from the screen mentioned so i can put kubuntu on it?

You need to make the cdrom first in the boot order on that computer. Usually at the splash screen (it should say toshiba or something like that) it'll say "Hit f12 to enter setup" or "F10 for boot order" (your keys may vary). Then just set the cdrom as first in the boot order and restart. It's not annoying, we were all unfamiliar with this at the start...it's just worth the learning curve.

This is so weird, i hit the f2 to go to setup but it says on the screen listed, "keyboard failure". Then it goes to the black screen with the same type on it as listed in the first post. is linux force commanding to the password screen? also, it says hit f12 for boot menu and when i hit f12 my computer beeps and it wont let me go too it. is there something wrong with my computer?

It looks to me like the password in question is not an OS password. It may be that the BIOS is password protected. On my machine, I can enable a security password which will prevent any one without the password from booting the machine. If this is the case here, it can likely only be disabled via mainboard jumpers. The way to find out how to do this, is through the manual for your particular mainboard. If you let us know the make and model of your box, or crack open the case and get the mainboard model number, someone could probably help.

Cheers, Lou

so what you are saying is that i need to open my computer?

OK - FORGET "linux" for a moment.

Let's just focus on "accessing your computer" for now.

1.it says incorrect password

2.i have both of those and am fairly sure they work.

3. after a few taps of the delete key it starts too beep when i hit it then goes to the black screen but says this

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A05
copyright 1985-1988 phoenix technologies ltd.
copyright 1990-2003 dell computer corporation
all rights reserved

Dell System Dimension 2400 Series
BIOS version A05
www.dell.com

keyboard failure

Type the password and ...
-- press <ENTER> to leave password security enabled.
-- press <CTRL><ENTER> to disable password security.
Enter password:
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Then what you're seeing is a BIOS boot password request. Did you enter a password the first time you saw the request? If you did, you may have set the BIOS password to that value.

If not, you will need to clear the BIOS password. Go the the computer manufacture's Web site to see, first,if they offer a BIOS update for the system and, second, a BIOS manual. The manual should tell you how to clear the BIOS settings (the "jumper" suggestion made in a post above).

well i cant even get into the bios to clear the jumper as the maual says to do. because i hit f2 and it always says keyboard failure.