[plug] Re: Root Password

[Julian Clark]

> From: Joong Cho <joongcho at westnet.com.au>
> Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 20:13:30 +0800
> Subject: [plug] Re: Root Password
> To: plug at plug.linux.org.au
> 
> > Boot knoppix
> > Mount hard disk partitions
> > Text edit /etc/shadow on whichever volume it ends up on
> > Look for root:$gdfgsdfg5445gsgsgs5sg:12581:0:99999:7:-1:-1:-1 or somehting
> > like it, and remove the text $gdfg... Right up until the next ":"
> > (now should look like "root::12581:0:99999:7:-1:-1:-1")
> > Save and reboot
> >
> > Root just requires the enter key.
> >
> > HTH
> >
> > CraigF.
> 
> Hi Craig,
> 
> Where do I mount the hard disk partitions to? the cd or the floppy?
> 
> > If you don't have a rescue cd:
> >  - Boot linux with the 'init=/bin/bash' argument, eg
> >    linux init=/bin/bash
> >  - You'll be dropped to a shell prompt. Run:
> >  - mount /proc
> >  - mount / -o rw,remount
> >  - passwd
> >  - mount / -o ro,remount
> >  - sync
> >  - reboot
> 
> How do you make a boot CD if you don't have one?
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Joong Cho
> Joong Cho Enterprises
> President
> 
> Web Site Administrator and Web Site Designer
> http://www.joongcho.com/
> http://www.startreklibrary.com/
> 
> _______________________________________________
> PLUG discussion list: plug at plug.linux.org.au
> http://mail.plug.linux.org.au/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/plug
> Committee e-mail: committee at plug.linux.org.au
> 
Hi Joong

You will want to mount your existing hard disk partition, to somewhere
you can write to it.

If you have successfully booted with a knoppix cd, you may see upo
your desktop icons labelled hda1 hda2 and so forth.

You may be able to mount one of these partitions by doubleclicking it
(i think, maybe right click and mount ) and  assuming that hda1 was
your original root partition, you'll then be able to navigate through
to the /etc/shadow entry.

You may find that you won't have access to edit it directly, as (IIRC)
knoppix doesn't give you root access immediately.
if this is the case, your best bet might be to forget all of that
stuff I just said and...
just open a terminal.
type su
this will give you root access..
mkdir /mnt/mountpoint/
mount -t auto /dev/hda1 /mnt/mountpoint
vi /mnt/mountpoint/etc/shadow 
Or use the editor of your choice instead of vi.

Hope this helps,


Julian Clark