[plug] [Fwd: (Fwd) Forgotten Password]

[Christian]

Leon Brooks wrote:
> 
> navarre at omen.com.au wrote:
> >
> > Hello Leon

> > I have a Debian system not used for several months that I have
> > forgotten the root password and I would like to find it.
> >
> > The system boots from floppy, Lilo being overwritten during a
> > primary HDD upgrade, Linux is on HDB. I have one valid user login,
> > and it works, so I can run programs/ scripts and have telnet and a
> > second linux box on the network (all password are known on this
> > box, also Debian). I have tried , about fours hours worth, to
> > remember/ second guess the password I used. I have an idea that
> > it is six to eight alphanumeric with at least one special character.
> >
> > I would consider a brute force test every combination method if
> > some one has one.

The best approach is to use a boot/root disk (ie, a disk that contains a
bootable kernel and one that contains a complete root filesystem -
sometimes you can fit these on the one disk).  There is a Boot disk
HOWTO which will explain to you the process of making these disks and
I've heard people mention scripts that will make the disks automatically
for you (thus saving quite a lot of time/reading).

Once you have the boot/root disk you can boot the system using that and
then mount your other root partition then edit your etc/shadow file on
the mounted partition.  Remove root's password, save the file, unmount
the partition and reboot.  You can then log in as root without needing a
password.  Of course, you should then immediately set a new password. 
You may also want to consider unplugging the machine from the network
while doing this, especially if it contains a remote login service such
as ssh which does not obey /etc/securetty.

Once you have them, keep a hold of the disks you made - you'll be
surprised how useful they can be at times. :)

Regards,

Christian.

-- 
Nowlan's Theory:
	He who hesitates is not only lost, but several miles from
	the next freeway exit.