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Old 05-15-2010, 01:08 PM   #1
avee137
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unable to login as root!


I am using CentOS. When i try to login as root using login command,i get the following:
Code:
[avi@localhost ~]$ login root
Password: 

Login incorrect
why it is so?? what could be the colution.My password is correct,i provided this while installation and i have tried it more than one time,so i am sure that there is no typing mistake.
 
Old 05-15-2010, 01:11 PM   #2
EricTRA
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Hello,

What looks weird to me is that you seem to already be on a console, logged in, so why would you login again on the same console? Are you logged in and wanting to su to root to perform an installation or so?

Kind regards,

Eric
 
Old 05-15-2010, 01:12 PM   #3
brucehinrichs
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Instead of:
Code:
login root
Use:
Code:
su - root
When you are done issuing root commands be sure to:
Code:
su - <yourusername>
to switch back to normal user so you don't do anything you regret as root.

The su command is switch user.
 
Old 05-15-2010, 01:28 PM   #4
avee137
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brucehinrichs View Post
Instead of:
Code:
login root
Use:
Code:
su - root
When you are done issuing root commands be sure to:
Code:
su - <yourusername>
to switch back to normal user so you don't do anything you regret as root.

The su command is switch user.
Code:
Code:

[avi@localhost ~]$ cat /etc/passwd
root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash:/sbin
bin:x:1:1:bin:/bin:/sbin/nologin
I made following change to the /etc/passwd file.I added /sbin with a hope to avoid setting PATH every time i need a command from /sbin but i ended up with following:
Code:
Code:

[avi@localhost ~]$ su
Password: 
su: /bin/bash:/sbin: No such file or directory
i cannot delete that entry from /etc/passwd as i cannot login as root.

please help!
 
Old 05-15-2010, 01:32 PM   #5
EricTRA
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Hi,

Have you tried the command suggested by brucehinrichs?
Code:
su -
or if you have sudo enabled for your user you can try:
Code:
sudo vi /etc/passwd
and providing your user password. Then you can change the line again to how it's supposed to be.

Next for resetting the root password you can use sudo again.

Kind regards,

Eric
 
Old 05-15-2010, 01:33 PM   #6
divyashree
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Quote:
Originally Posted by avee137 View Post
Code:
 
su: /bin/bash:/sbin: No such file or directory
i cannot delete that entry from /etc/passwd as i cannot login as root.

please help!
who did that ? Be in as root in single user mode while system boots and change ..
 
Old 05-15-2010, 01:39 PM   #7
avee137
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EricTRA View Post
Hi,

Have you tried the command suggested by brucehinrichs?
Code:
su -
or if you have sudo enabled for your user you can try:
Code:
sudo vi /etc/passwd
and providing your user password. Then you can change the line again to how it's supposed to be.

Next for resetting the root password you can use sudo again.

Kind regards,

Eric
Code:
[avi@localhost ~]$ sudo vi /etc/passwd
Password: 
avi is not in the sudoers file.  This incident will be reported.
is what i get!
 
Old 05-15-2010, 01:47 PM   #8
avee137
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Quote:
Originally Posted by divyashree View Post
who did that ? Be in as root in single user mode while system boots and change ..

Please elaborate how to do that.
 
Old 05-15-2010, 02:29 PM   #9
John VV
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put the cencOS 5.4 install cd in and use the rescue mode ( fallow the on-screen instructions )

also google
" single user mode"
 
Old 05-15-2010, 02:32 PM   #10
EricTRA
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Hello,

Bad luck, you're not in the sudoers list. So you only got the option to boot in single user mode or from a CD as indicated by Miss Divyashree and John VV.

Kind regards,

Eric
 
Old 05-15-2010, 02:38 PM   #11
divyashree
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Quote:
Originally Posted by avee137 View Post
Please elaborate how to do that.
(1) At grub boot screen (after restart)

(2) Select the kernel

(3) Press the e key to edit the entry

(4) Select second line (the line starting with the word kernel)

(5) Press the e key to edit kernel entry so that you can append single user mode

(6) Append the letter S (or word Single) to the end of the (kernel) line

(7) Press ENTER key

(8) Now press the b key to boot the Linux kernel into single user mode

(9) Now access the /etc/passwd file and remove that bad entry
 
Old 05-15-2010, 02:44 PM   #12
avee137
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Quote:
Originally Posted by divyashree View Post
(1) At grub boot screen (after restart)

(2) Select the kernel

(3) Press the e key to edit the entry

(4) Select second line (the line starting with the word kernel)

(5) Press the e key to edit kernel entry so that you can append single user mode

(6) Append the letter S (or word Single) to the end of the (kernel) line

(7) Press ENTER key

(8) Now press the b key to boot the Linux kernel into single user mode

(9) Now access the /etc/passwd file and remove that bad entry
thanks man...i googled dat..it worked...working fine now!
 
Old 05-15-2010, 02:47 PM   #13
EricTRA
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Hi,

Glad you got it solved. Please mark your thread as such using the Thread tools. Have fun with Linux. Great step by step guide by divyashree!

Kind regards,

Eric
 
  


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