Can not login and total noob to linux
 

Okay I just bought a refurbished desktop with linux on it because I am so totally frustrated with windows. My problem is when the computer loads (g os is the logo) it asks me to enter my user name. I don't have one and the person who refurbished it is unresponsive (thanks ebay). What I'm hoping is he didn't set up a username when he istalled the os. I remeber seeing a post somewhere where it explained how to set that up but for the life of me can't find it.

Ill try to be as informative with what I can figure out on my own. When I initially start it says loading with Grub and I can press the esc key which shows me:

Ubuntu 7.10, Kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
Ubuntu 7.10, Kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (Recovery Mode)
Ubuntu 7.10, memtest-86+

And from there I can either load an os or edit. When I do hit e for edit on the first highlighted option it brings me to:

Root (hd 0,0)
Kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=6d595cef-23c1-4abe-->
Initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
Quiet

That about all I know up to this point. I don't what to dig to far and mess something up somehow, just trying to remeber what the post I read said I think I got a step in the right direction?

Whoa - that is *old*. You might be better off getting a current Ubuntu CD (11.10) and just install that and blow the old system away.

Try this in the interim:
- choose the Recovery Mode boot option.
- Enter this command to hopefully give you the user name(s) (I'm guessing this will work)- change the password

I'm with syg; don't waste your time on it, download a new iso of the distribution of your choice, (the one pre-installed is Ubuntu), burn the iso to disc (not as a data cd) and install with that; good luck, welcome to the world of Gnu/Linux and we hope you enjoy it as most here do, and if you need any help, we'll do our best to provide with assistance, as long as you post your questions politely and in detail. (your first post was in sufficient detail)

Hi there and welcome to LQ!

Do as syg00 said get the current version of Ubuntu, the version 7 is from 2007, here some info about current versions:

Releases
Released (Current & Stable)

Hardy Heron - 8.04 LTS - April 24, 2008 - Supported until April 2013 (Server)
Lucid Lynx - 10.04 LTS - April 29, 2010 - Supported until April 2013 (Desktop) or April 2015 (Server)
Maverick Meerkat - 10.10 - October 10, 2010 - Supported until April 2012
Natty Narwhal - 11.04 - April 28, 2011 - Supported until October 2012
Oneiric Ocelot - 11.10 - October 13, 2011 - Supported until April 2013

To be Released

Version Release Schedule Support Date

Precise Pangolin - 12.04 LTS - April 26, 2012 - Supported until April 2017

Here some useful links:
System Requirements
Download Ubuntu
Ubuntu Alternative Downloads

Regards

I was able to get the username but when trying to change the password it won't let me type in anything :( Sooo ill take your word for it and say bye bye to this version and update, it definately can't hurt! Thanks for your help guys :)

By this, I assume you mean you're not seeing anything printed on the screen (like asterisks) when you type in the password. This is normal. Your input is being received, but nothing is being displayed as a security measure.

Yeah, its old, and totally 'out of support' so it wont have current security updates, and trying to install programs from the ubutnu repos will not work.

I dont know if I would be trying to install ubuntu 11.10 on the machine though...We have no idea of the system specs, but if its had ubuntu 7.10 on it the is every chance that it wont have enough RAM to run newer ubuntu versions well, or at all.

LadyAshe23, do you know what sort of hardware you have? RAM and CPU in particular.

Welcome to the community @LadyAshe23!

Okay let me first say that LQ is definately a place where you can get some handholding, and with a little patience on your part and posts with the informative background (like you provided), you'll find that folks here can get you through your most dire of straits.

Next, I would like to inform you that there's indeed a learning curve that you face. In no way is it insurmountable, and climbing that hill will yield you great dividends.

My recommendation is to start off with a tried and true Linux distribution that has been proven to bring folks through that learning curve and yield those dividends.

In my opinion the experience you are looking for won't happen with ubuntu - it's just another 'seems to work' distro that forces the removal of your power to have it your way.

So I'll offer that you might want to choose either Debian or Slackware - the two oldest and most respected of all Linux distros on the planet.

ubuntu is a dumbed down and partially crippled offshoot of debian, less stable and although it offers a lot of eye candy out of the box, people have been migrating away from it by the thousands since they adopted this thing you'll hear about called "Unity".

You can get debian at: http://debian.org/CD/ and a slackware DVD at: http://slackware.cs.utah.edu/pub/sla...nstall-dvd.iso

Let us know how things go, and don't hesitate to ask questions - but remember to search the LQ forums first for the particular answers to your questions ;)

Above all else....

Enjoy :)

I hope that helps!

Kindest regards,

.

After my husband had an off the wall dream that a squirrel told him the password we were able to login! Really strange but true.. All i know for sure it the computer has 1028mg of ram (1g?) So now that i can login is there someway i can check the specs?

Managed to find the device manager the processor is an Intel Pentium 4 CPU 2.40 GHz. There also a long list of other things which to me looks like mumbo jumbo to me but if i need to tell you guys more just let me know what. Thanks

I want some of what he's smoking ..... ;)

Go here, do as it says (use the "sudo" command they give), then repost here and attach the RESULTS.txt. As well as that let's see the output of all these commands (you'll need that password that first time)Edit: to get a terminal, try the menus at the top-left. Probably something like Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal
"exit" to close it when you've finished (or the close button).

When I look under accessories there is no Terminal there the only application listed is leafpad which is useless to me. I've been trying to find it in every possible place and I've got nothing. Not sure what to do now X_X

Edit: in the mean time I'm currently installing Ubuntu 11.10 on another computer. I have 6 computers at my disposal, beside the 2 that run fine with windows(for now), in which to play around with the different distros. Talking about going to extremes as a newbie! :)

With kubuntu 7.10, its called 'konsole'.

*edit- KDE button-> System-> Konsole (Terminal Program)

Confusing for newcomers to have half a dozen+ names for the same thing (terminal, console, konsole, BASH, 'the command line', etc.).

or press 'Alt F2' then type konsole in the little pop up box then press enter.
Good luck to you!