Lost Root Password - Linux Forums

10-29-2005	#1 (permalink)
rj586b Linux Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CA Posts: 101	Lost Root Password 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: Code: 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 __________________ Linux is numero uno! ______________________ Core2Duo E8500 - 1 WD V-Raptor w winxp - 1 WD Raptor w Ubuntu - 1 WD Raptor Storage (Fat32) - EVGA 790i - GTX 280 - 4 gig HyperX - On board sound.

10-29-2005	#2 (permalink)
budman7 Linux Guru Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Knee deep in Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 3,242	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. __________________ Go RedWings How to know if you are a geek. when you respond to "get a life!" with "what's the URL?" - Birger New users read The FAQ

10-30-2005	#3 (permalink)
rj586b Linux Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CA Posts: 101	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 __________________ Linux is numero uno! ______________________ Core2Duo E8500 - 1 WD V-Raptor w winxp - 1 WD Raptor w Ubuntu - 1 WD Raptor Storage (Fat32) - EVGA 790i - GTX 280 - 4 gig HyperX - On board sound.

10-30-2005	#4 (permalink)
AlexK Linux Guru Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 3,380	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: Code: 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> __________________ Life is complex, it has a real part and an imaginary part.

10-30-2005	#5 (permalink)
rj586b Linux Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CA Posts: 101	Just got Knoppix in the mail yesterday. Trying it now! __________________ Linux is numero uno! ______________________ Core2Duo E8500 - 1 WD V-Raptor w winxp - 1 WD Raptor w Ubuntu - 1 WD Raptor Storage (Fat32) - EVGA 790i - GTX 280 - 4 gig HyperX - On board sound.

10-30-2005	#6 (permalink)
rj586b Linux Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CA Posts: 101	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[~]# __________________ Linux is numero uno! ______________________ Core2Duo E8500 - 1 WD V-Raptor w winxp - 1 WD Raptor w Ubuntu - 1 WD Raptor Storage (Fat32) - EVGA 790i - GTX 280 - 4 gig HyperX - On board sound.

10-30-2005	#7 (permalink)
AlexK Linux Guru Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 3,380	try chroot /mnt/sda2 instead of chroot /mnt/sda2 /bin/bash __________________ Life is complex, it has a real part and an imaginary part.

10-30-2005

#8 (permalink)

rj586b

Linux Newbie

Join Date: Jun 2005

Location: CA

Posts: 101

Quote:

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

__________________
Linux is numero uno!
______________________
Core2Duo E8500 - 1 WD V-Raptor w winxp - 1 WD Raptor w Ubuntu - 1 WD Raptor Storage (Fat32) - EVGA 790i - GTX 280 - 4 gig HyperX - On board sound.

10-30-2005	#9 (permalink)
AlexK Linux Guru Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 3,380	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. __________________ Life is complex, it has a real part and an imaginary part.

10-31-2005	#10 (permalink)
rj586b Linux Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CA Posts: 101	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 __________________ Linux is numero uno! ______________________ Core2Duo E8500 - 1 WD V-Raptor w winxp - 1 WD Raptor w Ubuntu - 1 WD Raptor Storage (Fat32) - EVGA 790i - GTX 280 - 4 gig HyperX - On board sound.