[SOLVED] password finding

Hello. I got a old Dell Inspiron 1300 that was converted from Windows XP to Linux Mint. I want to be able to do some stuff like update the O.S but the system tells me to put a password. I don't know what the password is. Is there anyway to find what the password is?

Is this a BIOS password or a GRUB password or a Mint user password?

If you are logged in and using the system, then its the last one referred to above ie the one it (should) have asked you to create during the install.

Originally Posted by roadgeek01 Hello. I got a old Dell Inspiron 1300 that was converted from Windows XP to Linux Mint. I want to be able to do some stuff like update the O.S but the system tells me to put a password. I don't know what the password is. Is there anyway to find what the password is?

If you bought the computer from a second hand computer dealer they usually set the password to "password" on the computers they refurbish with a Linux operating system.

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Steve Stites

If you can't get any further and "password" doesn't work, you can always boot it with a SystemRescue disc, mount the hard drive and edit out the root password. We'll tell you how if necessary. Then you can log in as root without a password, create a new root password, and then create a user account for yourself.

Originally Posted by JeremyBoden Is this a BIOS password or a GRUB password or a Mint user password?

OP, please answer JeremyBoden's question. If you can boot off another media, then you can download any Linux distribution, put it on a DVD or USB stick and then boot that downloaded Linux distribution and install it cleanly onto this new secondhand computer. If the BIOS password is locked, then there would be other things you could possibly try, the first one being to contact the seller and inquire what the password is.

Welcome to LinuxQuestions!

I want to be able to do some stuff like update the O.S but the system tells me to put a password.

Maybe I'm wrong but your statement infers that you have already logged into the system as a user prior to trying to update the OS?

If you used a password to log in as the user, That's the password you should use to update the OS.

In Debian based systems, like Mint and Ubuntu, you use the user password to authorise updates and administrator level actions when asked for.

Play Bonny!

roadgeek01,

Welcome to LQ.

I suspect that you have switched on your computer and you are then being asked to enter an unknown password.

Switch off the machine and then switch it on again, whilst holding down the Shift key.

Use the Up and Down arrows to select Recovery Mode and press Enter.

Then follow these instructions:
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/resetpassword

Sorry for the confusion. I was not able to get to the computer. This is the user password I am talking about. When the computer turns on, it shows the Linux Mint logo and then it automatically logs me in. If I am opening up the computer from sleep, the computer asks for the password.

You can follow beachboy2's suggestions above to reset your forgotten password.

What do I do as the laptop will only power on when the charging cord is in and the laptop will only turn off when the cord is pulled out.

You will normally have a shutdown (optionally with an automatic restart) software option.

Your laptop runs off a battery and you don't want to completely discharge this.

If you want to force a laptop to switch off, holding the power switch on the laptop for 10-20 seconds will usually force it to power off.

Okay. I am on the recovery menu and I am ready to type the root password in. The system is not responding to any of my keyboard inputs. What do I do?

I can only suggest you try one more time - CTRL + ALT + DELETE may just work.

Sorry, I meant I can navigate and enter the options but I cant type anything.