Very embarrassing. Loaded Fedora Core on laptop last September (dual boot with Windows). Am in Argentina (long way from home) and decided to finally try Linux but unable to log in with username and password (I have forgotten) and perhaps they are in last years Daytimer at home. The root login message comes up during bootup and is blank I guess because it then continues to load and eventually gets to the screen asking for Username Password for Fedora Core.
Is there a workaround way to log in? I do not have installation disks with me and I have tried 256 combinations. I wont retùrn home for 6 more weeks.

If not able to log in, what must I do when I return home if no password found there. How do I reinstall the software. Just boot off CD maybe?

Sorry - very first attempt at Linux.

Thanks for any help
BMD

Hi,

And welcome to LQ!!


Not a big problem, depending on how FC has
been installed it may be as easy as to give grub
the word "single" as a parameter to the kernel.

If that still prompts you for a password, try another
parameter:
init=/bin/bash


Cheers,
Tink

Easy:
get a knoppix CD, mount HDD and clear password

You're a Linux guru:
(but probably you wouldn't be asking this if then:-)
pass init=/bin/sh as a parameter to the kernel on bootup to fire up a shell instead of init, remount root RW, repair passwd, reboot

Thanks. And there´s always a but ...

I discovered I have choices of 'a' 'c' or 'e' before booting Fedora Core - cool. Which gets me to grub which is like the old DOS editor like edlin I gather maybe? I searched the net on GRUB and am only slightly less nervous. But I have two questions now.

1. Is my present root or system password OK? The system merrily keeps booting past it (says login or something like that as the lines scroll by) and I assume that it is blank. Am I misinterpreting what the root password is? Later, when all the procedures finish and I select the Fedora Core menu option from the blue-coloured screen it comes up looking for a Username and then a Password, where I am stymied because I do not have these.

2. If you've already anticipated the situation in pt 1. sorry to be obtuse. I figured you must have understood my state so I looked at the three screens I get using 'a', 'c', or 'e'. I tried to enter 'single' and init=/bin/bash using 'c' command line but had error 27 of course. Here is my autoexec file (in linux, boot file maybe?). My version is using GNU GRUB version 0.94
root (hd 0,4)
kernel /boot /vmlinuz-2.6.5-1.358 ro root=LABEL =/rhgb quiet
initrd /boot /initrd-2.6.5-1.358 img

Tink, do I simply add like the switch /single to the line starting with kernel? And if I'm still locked out when I try the program again, where would I type in the line init=/bin/bash. Of course, part of me is worried about messing up my laptop XP pro which is crucial to my work here.

I'm getting the bug to get into Linux. Seems like a wealth of help and information out there.

You'll have to use the e, I think (I don't really use grub).


look at this one:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...84#post1510084


Cheers,
Tink

Thanks for the link and the help from both of you. I´m still not sure if I´ve explained where I´m stuck at properly and I´m not confident in messing with the kernel yet, especially for fear it may affect my XP booting. Probably unfounded but I am not sure of the simplest keystrokes yet. I just don´t have the basics yet.

Think I´ll wait for 6 weeks until I´m done here - thanks.

Well ... I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding going
on here, indeed. Your machine will have two passwords
(at least). One for root, one for your user.

If you forgot the user-password but remember roots you
can log into the box as root and change the users password.

If you forgot BOTH you'll want to do what we suggested.

You wouldn't be "mucking about" with the kernel there, you'd
just tell Linux to boot into text-mode without asking you to
provide as password AT ALL. Once booted to that you
can change both the root and the user password easily
by using the command-line utility passwd.


Cheers,
Tink

Thanks, Tink - maybe I'll try it BUT will I still be able to boot to XP if these modifications mess up? I know nothing about Linux - bear in mind. I need the handholding.

Again, here is what is in my file when I hit 'e'

root (hd 0,4)
kernel /boot /vmlinuz-2.6.5-1.358 ro root=LABEL =/rhgb quiet
initrd /boot /initrd-2.6.5-1.358 img

To have one mode of attack - and using AltF4's advice above, where do I physically type them in? In the section I entered when I hit 'e' and then on a new line? or in the lines above, or do I have to edit out or delete any of the above. I'm sorry - I need the most idiot-proof steps. I'm having trouble connecting the dots.
Thanks again