[plug] Query about passwords

[Bret Busby]

Hello.

Some time ago, I changed the root password on my laptop, when I took the 
computer to a workshop, to get some problems fixed.

I have since, not been able to remember the root password, and cannot 
log in as root, to do necessary system maintenance.

So, I cannot do things like FTP across our LAN, as /etc/hosts does not 
include most of the nodes, and I cannot update /etc/hosts.

Is it possible to somehow access the previous root password that I used? 
That one, I remember.

Or, do I need to rebuild the system; reinstall it all over again?

If I have to reinstall it all over again, as the computer dual boots 
with MS Windows XP, can I reinstall the Linux, only, or would I need to 
reinstall Linux, and then reinstall Windows XP?

The Linux is Debian stable (etch ?), having upgraded (?) from sarge (not 
a clean install of Debian 4.0, but an upgrade from 3.1 to 4.0).

Thanks in anticipation.

--
Bret Busby
Armadale
West Australia
..............

"So once you do know what the question actually is,
  you'll know what the answer means."
- Deep Thought,
   Chapter 28 of Book 1 of
   "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
   A Trilogy In Four Parts",
   written by Douglas Adams,
   published by Pan Books, 1992

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