Root Password Lost

gonzotonka · #1 (**permalink**) 03-29-2005

I'm attempting to blank out the root user password on a machine that we have forgotten the password for. I have been using the advice posted on this site to boot from CDROM in single user mode, then mounting the root slice and editing the /etc/shadow file. Each time I save the shadow file and reboot the machine, I am still unable to login. After which I go back into single user mode only to find out that the /etc/shadow file is back to its original state and it appears as if I never changed it. Is this being caused by the automounter daemon? If so, how do I turn the automounter off in single user mode?
Thanks!

Perderabo · #2 (**permalink**) 03-29-2005

When you mount the root slice, you need to edit /mnt/etc/shadow or something. /etc/shadow is in memory if you boot from cdrom.

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