[NTLUG:Discuss] ARGH! Root password lost

[Juliet Blosser]

On Tue, Jan 18, 2000 at 11:28:29AM -0600, Shane Wickson wrote:
> 
> 
> On Tue, 18 Jan 2000, Kathleen Weaver wrote:
> 
> > Short of reinstalling Linux, is there a way to change the root password?
> > 
> > I run the SuSE 6.1 distro if that helps.
> 
> Boot to a rescue disk.  Mount your hard drive under
> /mnt.  (vi|pico|emacs) your /mnt/etc/(passwd|shadow) file, and remove the
> root password.  Then reboot and log in root with no password.
> 
> Anyone with machine access can get root access.
> 
> If you don't have a rescue disk, you can download a Slackware boot and
> rescue combination that works wonders.  I'm sure the other distros
> providee them too.
> 
Another way to change your root password is to enter 'linux single' at the
LILO prompt.  This puts you in single user mode, and you don't have to enter 
the root password to get root access.