hello, i'm new to linux, but i really would like to learn. i found this old sun system running mandrake linux on the side of the road. it works, but saddy i can't guess the find out what the root password is. so i was thinking i'll just reinstal the OS, or what i need to do to reset the password. anyhow, it says that its running verison 2.2.16 of linux, and its running release 7.1b. any help would be fantastic!! thanks!!

Dunno about Sun hardware passwords. If its just a linux root password then reloading the OS will give you the opportunity to define the new root user (you).

Since you're posting, I suppose you have access to a computer with internet. Google "download linux iso" to find CD images of operating systems that you could load onto the machine. Download a copy of linux and burn the CDs. Put one into the drive and hope the machine boots from it so that you can start installing the OS. "Mandrake" is one of the major distributions (distros) of Linux. Redhat is another.

have fun,

O

If the lilo boot loader starts when you start the system, assuming the choice for Mandrake is linux, enter 'linux 1' then press <Enter>
This should put you in single user mode at a command prompt.
Next you can execute passwd to change the root password.

If lilo starts with a graphical screen, press <Esc> to exit the graphical display, and you can then enter 'linux 1'

I do not know anything about Sun computers, or if there is a dual boot with a boot delay, so this information may not work ...

slow down, i'm new, what does the lilo boot loader look like?

ok, first, which one do i boot with: ext or inst? and i don't think i can boot with a cd, how do i make a boot floppy? any help would be nice.

hay, thanks, that passwd thing work, now i can learn linux in style!!