Lost Login and Password Information on an Old Computer

rcp3w · 01-06-2005, 10:13 AM

I'm trying to log on to an old computer in a research lab where the original login and password have long been forgotten. We've given up trying to guess what they were. Do I need to reinstall Red Hat to reset the password? Will I then need to reinstall all the software on the computer????

I'm completely stupid about LINUX, let alone Red Hat!

Ideas please??

Thank you!

masand · 01-06-2005, 10:40 AM

hi there

boot from ur linux cd
run this at the boot promt

linux rescue

after following the options

run this at the prompt

chroot /mnt/sysimage

and then
passwd root

u will be able to set new pasword for the admin "root"
which u can use after u boot ur redhat

regards

thomasmathew · 01-07-2005, 12:57 AM

A still better option rather than looking for CDs and putting it on the tray, try passing an init value of 1 when you get the boot option in GRUB. When you get the boot option in GRUB, press e and you may get a chance to edit the GRUB command lines arguments that are passing, put an init of 1 ro root="LABEL" and you can get into single user mode. There you change your root password by passwd at the command line. Hope this will help you upto a certain extend.