SUSE root password

adetunjiaodu · 09-25-2006, 11:06 AM

HI
I am a network consultant i deal mainly with windows but one of my client has a Suse open server for emails . The problem is the root password is lost . i have tried knoppix but i could not moount the had drive for some reason . also i have tried "single" logIn through GRUB. i used the passwd but got the message password file is locked "Authentication Manipulation Error"

I am suck and would appreciate help

Thomas Lemmens · 09-25-2006, 11:34 AM

This document explains how to change root password without cdrom or floppy, so long as the system will boot. http://aplawrence.com/Linux/lostlinuxpassword.html.

adetunjiaodu · 09-25-2006, 02:15 PM

Thnks
I have seen similar document and i have tried it out but i keep getting the error message i mentioned earlier . One major issue for me when using knoppix is that i could not get the the hard drive mounted .

kalimero · 10-08-2006, 05:54 AM

On grub meny at kernel options (kernel line)add init=/bin/bash and then /bin/bash will be started insted of init process and will give you full root access.Then remount your file system with mount -o rw,remount /dev/yourdisk /moount/point and then enter in /etc/passwd file with vi /etc/passwd and then delete x in root line (no password for root),save that file and thats it!

komadich · 11-30-2006, 05:37 AM

Hello,

I have the same problem but i have a USB keyboard and if i start with init=/bin/bash I cant type anything.

I can log into the system with another account that is not root. Does this help? I can even get the /etc/shadow file with encrypted passwords. Does this help?

Thank you,
komadich

kalimero · 12-04-2006, 03:24 PM

As ordinary user you cant delete x in /etc/passwd.Try Knoppix then.