Forgetting Password !

blueriver649 · 04-02-2016, 12:13 PM

Hi Everybody,

I am able to log in my Ubuntu 15.1 system but I don't remember my password, is there anyway to retrieve my password, Thanks.

Emerson · 04-02-2016, 12:55 PM

No, but there are ways to change it. There is a number of threads on these very forums about it.

beachboy2 · 04-02-2016, 03:46 PM

blueriver649,

Look here:

http://blog.zwiegnet.com/linux-serve...rd-linux-mint/

ondoho · 04-05-2016, 02:18 AM

the previous link seems very specific;
the general solution is: boot into single user or "recovery" or "mantenance" mode, and set a new password with

Code:

passwd <yourusernamehere>

or

Code:

passwd root

erik2282 · 04-05-2016, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueriver649

Hi Everybody,

I am able to log in my Ubuntu 15.1 system but I don't remember my password, is there anyway to retrieve my password, Thanks.

are u logging in with your user account, and forgot root password?
or
are u logging in as root, because u forgot your user password?

Please be more specific.

pepe41695 · 04-05-2016, 10:14 AM

Hello,

Boot your pc from any linux distro. Then create a folder and mount the root partition this folder. For example;

mkdir folder && mount /dev/sda2(root disk) folder && chroot folder/ bin/bash

create a new password with "passwd root" command.

Or

Change the hash value of root in "/etc/shadow" file, for example;

root:$5$m19gJi0/n$DubaLYUA05sIyfhKL4mHO94NIfhYdEi1455NEIAYO34:16886:0:::::

second section of this file is hash.

If you have one more user copy the other one of the users password hash value and change root hash value with this.

Or

Please change the hash value of rooot with $5$twfawRDZz2FuQq0$TLuTzpOxKP6PR9G9nejQfQBnEbX0sDvRAv4B2FKsPtB then reboot if it works your new password is "12345".

lazydog · 04-05-2016, 12:28 PM

As long as you have root access or your personal account has sudo rights, changing a password is a piece of cake.
I tell everyone who admins a linux box to ensure their account has full sudo rights.

As root on CLI

Code:

 passwd <user> {who password you want to change}

As user on CLI with sudo access

Code:

sudo bash
su -
passwd {to change root's password}
passwd <user> {who password you want to change}

jefro · 04-05-2016, 06:48 PM

I like pepe41695 suggestion but you'd have to be careful on any of the password changes. In some systems, many things might be tied to that exact password.

But if I had 15, I'd think about just loading the latest on it.

blueriver649 · 04-06-2016, 12:17 PM

Hi Gents,

Thanks for your help, by using Lazydog's method. it worked perfectly but I will keep a copy of Pepe method in case I need it in the future.

lazydog · 04-06-2016, 01:02 PM

I've been doing it this way for years. As I hardly ever login as root I forget that password all the time.

jefro · 04-06-2016, 03:10 PM

Should have said that I liked that suggestion for it's uniqueness. Single mode is generally the posted solution.

Glad you got it fixed and for lazydog's solution.

blueriver649 · 04-06-2016, 08:46 PM

Thanks Jefro.