I installed RedHat 9 on my laptop a month ago. I've always kept it updated. It worked great until last night. I was messing around with some network settings because I can't seem to view files on my Windows desktop computer. That's another problem I won't go into here. I didn't think I really make any changes. I thought I was just browsing through the networking info. When I rebooted, it wouldn't let me login in as anybody. I tried 'root' and my only other user. If I type in 'root' and my correct password, it just comes back to asking me for username. If I type in 'root' and incorrect password, it tells me 'login incorrect'. So I know that somewhere in there it recognizes the correct password, but I can't go any further. The same thing happens when I login as my only other user.
How can I get in there? Is there some kind of system restore?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Rich

it sounds like you've wiped your passwd file, but it could be a problem with your login manager, at the login screen type [CTRL] + [ALT] + [F1]
if you still can't login there, then boot up your rescue disc (install disc 1, type 'linux rescue' at the boot prompt instead of pressing enter.
thhe type 'ls -lh /etc/passwd*'
if it returns nothing, yo'll have to reuild your passwd file from scratch
if it returns '/etc/passwd' then the passwords are probably wrong
if it returns something similar, like /etc/passwd~ or /etc/passwd-, but no passwd, then do 'cp /etc/passwd<whatever-else-it-was> /etc/passwd'
post what you find anyway

EDIT: by the way, /etc/passwd is the file that linux keeps track of users in

I tried using disk 1 and typing in linux rescue. It went through a few steps but eventually I ended up at an empty blue screen. It also said it couldn't find 'ls'. I think I really screwed it up a lot. Since I've only been using it for a month, I'm about to reinstall RedHat 9. Is there any way I can avoid this in the future, without backing up the whole hard drive? I hate comparing Linux to Windows, but is there some kind of 'System Restore' in Linux? I'm determined to make this OS work for me. I can't stand Windows anymore.
I became hooked on Linux ever since I took a course in Unix this semester.
Thank you very much for your patience and assistance.

what kind of things do you want to restore?
if it's documents and user settings, just copy your home directory somewhere safe.
and don't worry about screwing up the OS, i did it about 3 times in my first month with RH9, it's all part of the learning curve

okay...just dont take tension....we got solution for login problems..

Get your CD 1 and boot from it...

1. At the boot prompt type

linux rescue

2. Then it will ask u for couple of things...language and keyboard.....choose whatever u wana choose..

3. It will ask u to change your root directory to /mnt/sysimage

do that by giving the command

chroot /mnt/sysimage

4. Now, change your root password with the passwd command...

passwd

Thats all....I think your login problems will end there and then...Post again if there are any errors ....

Regards,

amit