forgot root password

ali_hammad · 03-07-2005, 08:52 AM

hi
i m novice to linux.. i installed linux a few days back and now i forgot the root password.. is there any way to crack linux.. plz i want a detailed answer cuz i know very liitle about linux..
regards
ali

hamish · 03-07-2005, 09:10 AM

Someone jsut posted something about this a couple of weeks ago. if you search it will be there.

the short answer is:
* download gentoo live cd
* boot up system
* mount you hard drive
* chroot that partition
* change password (passwd)
* reboot

hamish

TruckStuff · 03-07-2005, 10:05 AM

If you use Grub:

1) When the Grub prompt comes up, choose your OS and press the 'a' key (to append the Grub entry)
2) Go to the end of the line and add a '1' to the end of it (this boots to single user mode)
3) When you get to the bash prompt, type 'passwd root' and enter a new password
4) After changing th epassword, type 'logout' and your system will reboot.

Not now, John! · 03-07-2005, 03:05 PM

You probably don't have to download Gentoo Live CD. I guess that one of your distribution CD's is Live CD.
Also, on newer distros thing that TruckStuff suggested won't work. In that case you can try deleting line that begins "root" from /etc/passwd and/or /etc/shadow.
NOTE: save backup of those files.

benjithegreat98 · 03-08-2005, 03:44 PM

Here's a thread with a similar problem. I gave pretty detailed instructions on how to blank out the root password.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=298447