admin. password

mark1346 · 08-05-2003, 05:05 PM

I installed Linux 9.0 then i couldn't use it anymore for a while. I didn't write down the admin. password. Is there a way to change it to a new one or do i have to re-install. That really isn't a problem because i don't have a thing used in it yet, but I'm trying to learn something in the process. Any help would be great.

Thanks

neo77777 · 08-05-2003, 05:23 PM

When you turn your computer on, when you are presented with a bootloader screen see if it says GRUB or LILO, in the case of GRUB when you see that screen with choices to boot navigate to the Linux one and type e. You'll be given a GRUB edit menu where you can put
linux single
the system will boot into single user mode where you can enter
passwd
to change root's password.
In the case of LILO the command to get the boot prompt is Ctrl+X where you once again use linux single and then passwd to change root's password,
Good luck.

Tinkster · 08-05-2003, 05:24 PM

What distro are you using?

RH and MDK (used to?) have a
feature (I consider it a horrible security
breach :}) that allows you to get a
login-less root shell from the lilo prompt
by giving the kernel you boot the
command "single" ...

From there all you need is vi :}
and editing /etc/passwd (/etc/shadow)

Cheers,
Tink