How do you log-in on a "user" only log-in with a wrong or bad password?

I re-installed already but just encase it happens to me again and to
anyone else for that matter, please tell me how to go in and change the
password for a "user only log-in"? For I am a noobe and will learn
everything I can to keep from having to go back to the blue screen of
death!

This has happen to me two times now, once in Mepis I configured the
log-in for the user only and no "root" log-in. Next boot I find out
that the new password I setup didn't work. and I could not figure out
or find anything goggled or other wise how to go in and change the
password for the user only.

Second time was just the other day installing PCLinuxos. After setting
up the password and rebooting I could not get in. I searched for hours
and posted some post but could not find any results.

I did find about six diff ways to get in and change for root but
nothing for changing for a single user. So, tell me where you found
out so I can go read for myself.

I learned how to remove the root password in shadow but, from the
prompt I could not boot the system. I was trying to start KDE from
what I had goggled but found out later that that PCLinuxos did not have
KDE! yea, noobe stuff I know and real dumb!LOL But, it's a small price
to have to pay to stay away from the "blue death screen", right?

Thanks in advance for your time and input.

If you can login as root, in a terminal window run this command: passwd <username> , where <username> is the name of the user who's password you want to change.

Remember that Linux is case-sensitive. If you enter the password in uppercase, it won't work when entered in lower-case, and vice-versa.

1 members found this post helpful.

Thank you bigrigdriver
I've copied and printed your instructions. I will be installing the latest Mepis8 and I will try it out so I can learn how to do it. Thanks again

steelheat