I was given a desktop computer and it has Ubuntu MATE installed but it has the last owners name and password for bootup. I have no way of knowing the password so I would like to know how to change it. Thank you. David

Try this LINK

Hi.

Best to reinstall a new OS, check out the first link in my signature.

Have fun!

As Jamison2000e said, it is basically best to reinstall and start with a clean system.

However, if you wanted to actually change the login user and password, you will have to start from an install dvd or usb, or a live distro usb or dvd, and then find a command line and "mount" the internal drive on the computer, and "chroot" into it. Then you can use "useradd" and "passwd" to set up a new user... you can modify the permissions and ownerships on the old users home directory so the new user can acccess it, using "chown" and "chmod". These words in quotes are common system admin commands in linux, and there is plenty of documentation on them. It's pretty technical. But changing someone's userid and password, without knowing their password, should be technical.

Unless more info; like did the person it came from have something illegal on it or did you steal it and so on times infinity, (no offence as we don't know? ) That's why cracking passwords is against LQ rules.

1 members found this post helpful.

rules.

Sry... I didn't know that; but it definitely makes sense.

2 members found this post helpful.

There was a post not long ago where someone's spouse (and administrator) passed away , we can normally retrieve data running live. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_CD

If you don't need any data, as other suggested do a re-installation.

If you need the data as long as the hard drive is not encrypted then try using a live CD.

Good luck!!

Thanks to all that replied. I was able to contact the person that gave me the computer and he forgot to give me the password so now all is well.