Slackware initial login
 

I recently installed slackware 8.1. When I installed it at the very end it asked me to set my root password. I entered a password, and again. Then it told me to reboot so i did, pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete. When slackware boots up again it asks me for my username and password. I entered root for the username and my password for the password yet it said password incorrect. What is wrong?

If part of the password was numbers, make sure the NumLock is on if you used the number pad. Or use the numbers above the keys instead.
Is caps lock on? Was it on when you entered the password?
Ummm....are you sure you entered the right password? :)
I know...it sounds like I am poking fun, but it's so easy to overlook the obvious...myself included.

The password is case sensitive. So if the caps lock key is on then maybe turn it off. Also, if you used numbers and numlock key is off then the numeric keypad is not working, Turn on the numlock key to enable the keypad.

You might want to try booting the install CD again running the setup program. Near the bottom is an option I think to setup your system. It might take you back thorugh that part again.

If you are still not able to login, then I can only recommend the following;

1st Alternative:
WARNING: This method may delete other accounts that might be needed by the system, like sendmail. See below for an alternative safer method.

boot your install CD and login as root.
mount /dev/hda1 /mnt (note: use your root device partiton for hda1.)
cp /etc/passwd /mnt/etc/passwd
cp /etc/shadow /mnt/etc/shadow
umount /mnt

and now reboot. Your login will not have any password.

2nd Alternative method:
WARNING: Requires knowledge of using the vi text editor. To use an alternate editor if available, substitute the "vi" command below as required.

boot your install CD and login as root.
mount /dev/hda1 /mnt (note: use your root device partiton for hda1.)
cd /mnt/etc
vi shadow

The first line will be the root login encrypted password. The encrypted password just follows the first colon ":" after the word root. It continues until the next colon. Delete all the characters between the first two colons. Save the file and exit vi.

cd /
umount /mnt

and then reboot. The root account will not have a password.

The password can be setup again after logging in as root by using the "passwd" command.