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Reset Your Lost Root Password PDF Print E-mail
Written by Peter   

suse_geeko.jpgBoot from the install CD
Boot from your first install CD and press F1 at the first screen. Then choose "Rescue System" from the menu.

At the prompt type:


# root


*note* - You do NOT need a password.

edit the "passwd" file
At the next prompt, enter:

# cd /etc

# vi passwd


  • scroll down to the "root" line. In the passwd file look for root line. It should looks something like this:


root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash


Delete the "x" after "root:". It's important to leave the colons.

To delete letter under the cursor press ESC key and "x" -> so you are deleting letter "x" by pressing sequence ESC key "x"

After the modification above, the line should look like this:

root::0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash


Now, save the file and exit by pressing ESC then "wq" and "enter".
  • Now we're going to edit the "shadow" file.

edit the "shadow" file
Next edit:

# vi shadow


Press ESC then "x" (x will delete letter under cursor)

change root line from something like:

root:$2a$05$sin5i458ghsdfg8076t5ymp4y;jgslkdbvffd bshmRK:12856:0:10000::::


to this:

root::::


*note* - four colons should be left!

Save the file by pressing ESC and "wq".

If something goes wrong during the editing process, press ESC followed by "q!".
  • Log out, reboot, set your new password
  • Reboot your computer, log in as your normal user, and from the console window enter:

$ su
# passwd


And here you'll set the new root password.

Log out of root, and in as your normal user, and you're done!

Addendum.

If you have lost user password: log in as a root and type

#passwd user_name


enter a new user password.
Last Updated on Monday, 14 July 2008 17:45
 
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