Lost Root Password

[rj586b]

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I recently changed my user password and my root password would not work anymore. I am sure it was my error but cannot figure out what I did. I will need some help on this because I am having trouble understanding some of the posts I found regarding recovering lost root passwords. I want to reset the root password. I don't understand how to get into single user mode. Any help is appreciated.

Here is some stuff I tried:

After booting with my install disk and choosing rescue system, I type:

passwd

I then get the error message:
cannot open logging plugin /usr/lib64/pwdutils/liblog-syslog.So.1: cannot open shared object file: no such file or directory
Changing password for root
user not known to the underlying authentication module.

Thanks

[budman7]

Just before you select Suse as an option at boot.
Look at the "boot options" line.
Make sure that Suse is highlighted and on the boot options line put a "1" there.
That will boot you into runlevel 1, or single user mode.

[rj586b]

I got into runlevel 1. Thanks

It asks me for the root password which I do not have. What should I do now

Thanks Again

[AlexK]

SuSE usually protects its single user mode with the root password. What you are going to have to do is boot from a livecd such as knoppix, chroot into the SuSE partition and change the password there.

i.e Once knoppix or another livecd has loaded, execute the following commands in the terminal:

su -
mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/hda1  <-- assuming your suse root partition is /dev/hda1
chroot /mnt/hda1 /bin/bash
passwd
<enter new root password>
<enter new root password>

[rj586b]

Just got Knoppix in the mail yesterday. Trying it now!

[rj586b]

I did not succeed however Knoppix is really cool. Would you mind taking a look at what I did My hard disk is sda2.
Thanks

root@0[~]# mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/sda2
mount: /dev/sda2 already mounted or /mnt/sda2 busy
mount: according to mtab, /UNIONFS/dev/sda2 is already mounted on /mnt/sda2
root@0[~]# chroot /mnt/sda2 /bin/bash
chroot: cannot run command `/bin/bash': Exec format error
root@0[~]# chroot /mnt/sda2 /bin/bash passwd
chroot: cannot run command `/bin/bash': Exec format error
root@0[~]# passwd
Enter new UNIX password:
Retype new UNIX password:
Sorry, passwords do not match
passwd: Authentication information cannot be recovered
root@0[~]# mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/hda1
mount: /dev/hda1 already mounted or /mnt/hda1 busy
mount: according to mtab, /UNIONFS/dev/hda1 is already mounted on /mnt/hda1
root@0[~]# mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/sda2
mount: /dev/sda2 already mounted or /mnt/sda2 busy
mount: according to mtab, /UNIONFS/dev/sda2 is already mounted on /mnt/sda2
root@0[~]# chroot
chroot: too few arguments
Try `chroot --help' for more information.
root@0[~]# chroot /mnt/sda2 /bin/bash
chroot: cannot run command `/bin/bash': Exec format error
root@0[~]#

[AlexK]

try chroot /mnt/sda2 instead of chroot /mnt/sda2 /bin/bash

[rj586b]

try chroot /mnt/sda2 instead of chroot /mnt/sda2 /bin/bash

This one didn't work either.

Quick question I paid retail value for SUSE 9.3. Will they give me the 10.0 upgrade? If I am hosed on this one, I may just download the eval copy or buy the retail. What do you think?

Thanks Again

[AlexK]

No they won't give you a free upgrade to 10, you either have to download it, or pay retail for it.

Looking at your first post, it seems like some password changing utility in SuSE has become corrupted or something similar. I would now suggest that you perform a "Repair Install" by booting from your present 9.3 disks.

[rj586b]

That sounds like a plan I need more intall experience anyway. I will backup my important docs and fun pictures first.

Will I need to backup my install RPMs and drivers (i.e. video driver) or does it keep everything the same