single user mode - UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

guest100 · #1 12-12-2001

Hi all,

why "vi" acts differently is single user mode?
Does anyone help ?
I am using "x" to delete and it keeps messing up.
Please help

Thanks

LivinFree · #2 12-12-2001

Hmm... is your terminal defined correctly? That's the first thing that popped in my mind...

Another way to do it is with ed / ex. The following is courtesy of "Unix Hints and Hacks":

Code:

># cp /etc/passwd /etc/passwd.bak

># ed /etc/passwd
1p
s/:.............:/::/
1p
w
q
>#

This will make a backup of the passwd file, just in case. Then, edit it, go to and print the first line, then substitute the first occurance of a 13-character field to a zero character field (there HAS to be 13 "."'s in there). Then it should print again, just to make sure, then write the file out, then quit.

After this, you should be able to log in without any problems and change the passwd.

NOTE: This will only work with "traditionally" crypt'd passwords. They have 13 characters in the password field.

guest100 · #3 12-12-2001

Thanks LivinFree

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