Need to reset login and password

type3 · 12-30-2004, 11:31 PM

I was leaving work the other day and saw a HUGE Case sticking out of the top of the dumpster. Me being a geek at heart thought "Cool!" I grabbed it and took it home. I plugged it up tonight and it runs fine. It has Linux Redhat 7.2. Goes to a login screen. I have no idea what it is. I called my friend and he said that I could download a boot disk and change to "single user" and change the pass..which I assume is for root. Can anyone tell me if that is correct and where can I find a place to download a boot disk so I can accomplish this? I would like to set up a FTP server or a Webserver....and also learn about Linux in the process.

scuzzman · 12-30-2004, 11:34 PM

You don't need a bootdisk.
When you boot, you should come to a prompt like this one:

Code:

boot:

type

Code:

linux 1

and you're in single user mode. Type

Code:

passwd

to change your password.

type3 · 12-30-2004, 11:53 PM

Thanks so much. All I get is it will ask me what OS I want to boot and the kernel 2.4.7 is the only choice....it goes through some checks and then to:

login:

any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

scuzzman · 12-30-2004, 11:55 PM

Press the <Esc> key or the <E> key - that should drop you to the boot: prompt.

type3 · 12-31-2004, 12:40 AM

Ok....I tried that at the point I see what OS I do I want to boot from...I hit <E> and it gives me 3 choices

root (hd0,0)
kernel
interid

not sure what to do there.

Do I need to hit Esc or <E> at a different time?

ARGGGGH!

Thanks again.

jschiwal · 12-31-2004, 06:43 AM

It would be unethical for you to log in to that computer. I can't believe they didn't wipe the drives clean. RH 7.2 is a very old distro. Why not download a newer distro and reformat the drives when installing?

phil.d.g · 12-31-2004, 06:47 AM

Would have to agree with the enethical bit, there may be all sorts of information on there the owner doesn't want anyone else to see or wasn't meant for anyone else to see. Just because they were careless enough to throw it away without wiping the drive doesn't give you the right to read the data on it. If I were you just format and reinstall with a distro of your choice

type3 · 12-31-2004, 01:45 PM

Yeah I guess your right. I work for the company. This has been sitting around forever in our "cage"....Our admin is usually real good about security....but I guess he or who ever threw it out did not care or did not think they needed to wipe it. Ok I wlil wipe it and install a new distro.