Help, I forgot the password of "root", but I don't want to install Linux again.Who can tell me that how to get the password login use "guest" or login use "root" with out type the password.

If I remember rightly you can boot linux into 'single' mode.

That gives you one console and you are root, then change the password.

I did it once and promptly forgot how to do it. Do a search or someone here might know.

at the lilo prompt type
then you will be in single mode without a login prompt.
this will then prompt you to change roots password.

That's if he is using lilo what about single mode in grub?

i assume he is using lilo, its more common but hey, that is why people should be detailed so we don't have to ponder about these types of things on the other side.

I use grub (it's standard with Mandrake 7.2) and I wouldn't mind knowing if you do, just in case.

After a while they learn to post more details, give him a break it's his 2nd post to the forums.

Next time he will probably include which distro and version he is using from that we could tell which he is using lilo or grub.

well, i have never used grub but i am sure you can run the single user runlevel of 1 from the command line to reboot into single user mode, but i am unsure if you can do this without being root to do it. not sure though.

i assume you need a boot disk then since i know grub is like a graphical boot loader and gives no prompt. unless you can try a ctrl-x at the login and see if it goes to a regular command line to load your choice of OS.

i give everyone breaks though.... some aren't as patient, i just see it as common sense to give details in the IT world, well at least to get questions answered faster that is.

If you are using grub then you can use the Installation CD and you will get the LILO prmpt
Login into single user mode by typing LINUX 1
delete the /etc/passwd file
set a new password by typing passwd root
and you're all set

if it works, just let me know

Wait a second, so anyone could just boot into single-user mode and change my root password on me, and do anything they wanted to my system? I'll have to keep that in mind when I leave my laptop laying around. I guess setting a BIOS password would protect against this?

even then they could take apart your laptop and remove the motherboard battery to reset the cmos and then get past it

it kind of sucks that there are ways to get around these things, but if there weren't, stuff would be really bad if you ever forgot your passwords.

i think they should make you put in the cd as well as ask you some sort of question about your computer or something

hey guys,

you're right they should have some sort of validation you have to go through before allowing you to change passwords,,,, because at my College someone did this exaclty... change the admin passwords, and did "fun" stuff to it...


let's just say that that person isn't accepted to really any colleges or university's anymore..


lol...


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