Can't Boot Into Single-User Mode?

[The_Librarian]

Hello,

Recently started a new position and (grrrr) cannot access a server, website content is outdated, people getting cranky with me, please help.

Running Mandrake 10.1 - LILO bootmanager

The system prompts for root password for single-user mode:
*Telling INIT to go into single-user mode.
*Give root password for maintenance.
*(or type Control-D for normal startup)

I tried entering 'linux init=/bin/bash' per some instructions I found online but the system won't accept it.

Any ideas or other suggestions?

Thanks.

[spoon!]

Is the boot order set to (or can you set the boot order in BIOS to) boot to a floppy or CD-ROM before the hard drive? Because if you can, then you can use a boot disk or LiveCD to gain access to the system.