Hi

I am having problems editing the SHADOW file in Single User mode.

I can't recall the root password (Stupid Me), although I can log in using my normal users account (non priviledged).

I've tried booting into single user mode to change my root pwd, but the machine mounts the disk as read only, so i can't change the password??????

Can somebody please help me - I really don't want to have to rebuild the box from scratch

--------------------- We live and learn - hopefully!!! --------

mounting read-only is a little weird... anyway, just about every Linux distro CD builds a running linux filesystem and such in RAM, and therefore makes a good quick and dirty recovery disk. Just let the sucker boot normally and then usually Alt+F2 or Ctrl+Alt+F2 will get you over to a shell. You can then mount the drive with the normal:

mount /dev/hdX /mnt

Usually, and this is amazing how often its the case, you have vi at your disposal, if not, you can always chroot to /mnt and then just change the password with good old passwd.

If all else fails, there is always http://www.toms.net/rb/

Luck,

Finegan

Thanks finegan.

I'm resorting to toms......... as you suggested, so this'll hopefully do the trick.

cheers