I just recently bought a laptop that had linux installed on it. The problem is whenever the red hat screen comes up it ask for a localhost login and after that a password. Is there any way to delete the old passwords and put in my own. I appreciate all your help Kristoffer

Sure, just put in the old one after logging in, and then to setup a new one simply type:
passwd
And it will change your password.

BTW, this is the section of the site to introduce yourself, not to ask a question

Welcome to LQ

Cool

master c, i tried what you said but it did not work. see i dont have the disc or anything for linux. i'll take you through the startup. power up is fine,comes to red hat linux(2.4.18-24) page and wants you to click on it, so i do and a whole buch of process's come up until you reach a page that says and i quote (Red Hat Linux release 8.0 (Psyche) Kernal 2.4.18-24 on an i586) that is what it says at the top of the page. below that there is a prompt that says localhost login. ok so i type in raccoon just for fun and the next prompt says password, but you cannot type anything in. if you can help me i would appreciate it kristoffer

Moved to Security, because icunow posted a follow-up here. The thread is http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...threadid=62527

It's a second part of this one: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...&postid=320140

icunow, when you next time post to the wrong forum by accident, ask a moderator to move it. And please add a link when you refer to one of your previous posts. It makes it easier to help you.

Now, let's come to your problem. It may be quite easy to solve, but I must ask about one thing: Do you have RH installation cd or not?

you mean you dont see anything being echoed? when you type in the password nothing is echoed. or you mean to say that you typed in the password pressed 'enter' and nothing happened??



Mara i am curious, why did you ask that question?

first of all i dont know the login or password to boot linux up. What i need help with is trying to delete the old passwords and putting my very own in. Also if i cant get the linux problem solved i would just like to uninstall it. I am so sorry about the whole listing problem i am new to linuxquestions.org. thank you for helping me

I do not have a red hat installation cd, i hope that is not a big problem. thanks

at the login screen, when you first install linux, usually there is no root password set. You can type 'root' into the user box and then blank for the password. Then you can get in and change passwords and stuff.

//moderator note: If this thread comes across as somewhat incoherent it's cuz I volunteered this one for a "thread merger" :-]

icunow: did you try booting into single mode?

1. If the machine was not brand new and you got it from someone who has previously used it then you will have to re-install linux. You cant change a password if there is one set and u dont know it.....otherwise what would be the point of the password. If the machine is brand new, type "root" without the quotes for login and press enter when the password prompt comes up.

2. When you type in a password at the prompt, nothing echos back because it is set up that way.....just type in the password and press enter and it works....you just dont see the nice *****'s come up.

You cant change a password if there is one set and u dont know it.."
Robert0380, with physical access to a box, the above is not true. Look at my question, see where it leads you and you'll see.

hey,how can i load into linux single. i have tried everything.

if i want to re-install linux, how do i install it. Where can i get an installation cd, and and how much does it cost.

hey,how can i load into linux single. i have tried everything.
At the LILO prompt type in the name of kernel to load and add one of "single", "1" or "init=/bin/sh". Then change the passwd using "passwd".

if i want to re-install linux, how do i install it. Where can i get an installation cd, and and how much does it cost.
ISO's of your favourite distro's are downloadable everywhere.

//moderator note: This isn't a security issue, so I'm moving this to /Linux/Laptops.