Ubuntu 10.10 asking for login which I don't know on black screen
 

Following a motherboard failure I have used a cobbled together system and the only constant is the HD with Ubuntu 10.10 as operating system. the computer fires up OK but I am presented with a black screen and request for login and password see below:

Mountall: Disconnected from Plymouth [OK]

Ubuntu 10.10 Kids tty1

Kids login:

The computer is primarily for the kids hence the kids. I can't remember creating a login (when I installed Ubuntu) only a password - which I do remember :)

can anyone help BTW I really am a NEWBIE like thick

change the boot option in grub so that ubuntu starts in init 1, add this after all that you have in your kernel param:

(when you see the grub menu with options which kernel to select (you can simply hit UP or DOWN arrows on the keyboard when you start the PC, after BIOS) select the (norammaly) top option (latest kernel) > hit E on the keyboard, select the line with the kernel hit E add the line below > hit enter > hit B)

init 1

this will start your system in init 1.
from there you could set/change a password for any account including root/kids and etc

say:
passwd kids > hit enter > set password > reboot ;)

thanks for the reply nocountryman, like the name. unfortunately I cant change the boot option in grub as I don't know how to get into grub (which I have only a vague understanding of), as I seem to be stuck in the login password conundrum, like I said I am thick but keen :)

SO see the attachment. this is the menu you should get to edit the grub boot option.

to get to that menu keep tapping on the UP or Down key on your keyboard right after you see the initialized HDD's in bios.. simply not right after you start PC but just abit after.

so youll get that menu you need to hit E button.
you will see something like that (but only for with your distro details.) :


title Fedora (2.6.35.9-64.fc14.i686)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.35.9-64.fc14.i686 ro root=/dev/mapper/ncmsrv-root rd_LVM_LV=ncmsrv/root rd_LVM_LV=ncmsrv/swap rd_NO_LUKS rd_NO_MD rd_NO_DM LANG=en_US.UTF-8 SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 KEYBOARDTYPE=pc KEYTABLE=uk rhgb quiet nouveau.modeset=0 rdblacklist=nouveau
initrd /initramfs-2.6.35.9-64.fc14.i686.img

on this line add:

kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.35.9-64.fc14.i686 ro root=/dev/mapper/ncmsrv-root rd_LVM_LV=ncmsrv/root rd_LVM_LV=ncmsrv/swap rd_NO_LUKS rd_NO_MD rd_NO_DM LANG=en_US.UTF-8 SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 KEYBOARDTYPE=pc KEYTABLE=uk rhgb quiet nouveau.modeset=0 rdblacklist=nouveau init 1

Hit enter. > Hit B key to boot :)

Just note that its possible that even after you reset the password, its not going to help... if you are presented with console instead of the GUI (gnome/kde desktop env.)
it could be the that graphical interface cant start possibly coz of the different video device.

but thats just a possibility. first reset the password. then if possible attach a screenshot of what you get :)

I can get onto my desktop now in low graphics but my mouse wont work and nor my keyboard strange! I can log in with the keyboard but once in it wont work. i can understand my mouse as it is an old mobo and does not have usb2 and I cant find an old ps/2 mouse oh dear oh dear oh dear, i will preserver and not return to the darkside :) thanks for hanging in there. cheers andy

Got there
 

thanks alot nocountryman.

got there in the end.

cheers

andy

If you still cant: Go to /etc/X11/ and backup your xorg.conf

Change to Init 3 mode

in console as root type:

or (same thing pretty much)

Then again as root run:

That will reinitialize you display and keyboard and mouse. at least it should ;)

Cheers