Can not login to one of my mandrake 9.1 server anymore.

To go into single usermode is not an option I have

______
the screen:


Linux-secure linux failsafe

boot:

----------

can not just type ind linux single, it jut boots with runlevel 3

what can I do ?


Cheers

Claus

When failsafe comes up do NOT press ESC. Then it will go through the [ OK ] thing and end up at a command prompt to login. Login as a user then type "su". I tried it and I became root. It should still work without a password as I don't have one set for me either and I can still login.

Thanks,
Shawn

I assume your using lilo(mdk default). I also assume you have put some kind of security thing in lilo to keep anyone from booting into single user mode. I'm not familiar with that type of security measure but I assume whatever it is it will be reflected in your /etc/lilo.conf.
If your locked out of root and can't edit lilo.conf, the only thing I can think of is to get knoppix or some other bootable linux cd, boot the cd, and edit the lilo.conf through there to get rid of the security measure and rerun lilo in a chroot environment. Then you can boot into single user mode and change the root password. Please post your lilo.conf and I can give more detailed help.

thanx and return with the result, positive I hope :-)

Claus

Hi,
Here's a trick that runs on every linux (I've used it in similar situation on my Fedora core) :
on the LILO/grub command prompt you write what you normally write, but append :
init=/bin/sh (example : 'linux init=/bin/sh'). This assumes that /bin/sh is present.
That causes the boot process to go direct to the said program, instead through the normal init scripts.
Here you can use things like 'passwd' to change root's password.
HTH

George Kodinov

Got Kernel Panic during startup, But your idea is absolute OK! I simply just need some files on that system, så will go with knoppix now :-)

If "linux single" doesn't work, how about "linux 1"?

Sorry for the late answer here. knoppix gave me some errors then I had a try with gento and its really good, I could mount straight ahead it gave me an DHCP IP and I could ftp all the files I needed. www.gentoo.org guess its almost the same as knoppix .... the difference for me was simple it did find my raid-card ...