Lost Root Password Post: 52526

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Top Forums UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users Lost Root Password Post 52526 by norsk hedensk on Monday 21st of June 2004 05:33:22 PM

06-21-2004

Registered User

generally i believe if you delete the password for root in /etc/passwd you will be asked for a new password upon next reboot. this is the case correct? (luckily ive never lost my password Smilie

)

but you cant do that with the OS that is on there if you dont already have the root password.

so, you have a few ways to do it. your goal is to mount that file system and change the /etc/passwd file.

first thing, you can rip out that harddrive and put it in another computer with an os on it already, so you can then mount that harddrive and edit accordingly. that however is a pain in the ass.

so, the easiet thing to do would be to boot from some cd and use that to mount that drive and edit the file.

your install cd is its OWN os. if you boot from that disk, look for an option to get to a command line. once you have a command line you are set. mount that drive, browse to
/etc/passwd and fix your computer!

as perderabo said, search, youll still find more info than what i have provided.

norsk hedensk

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llconvert

llconvert(8)						      System Manager's Manual						      llconvert(8)

NAME

       llconvert - Modify lastlog records from DIGITAL UNIX releases 4.0x and prior to new format

SYNOPSIS

       /usr/lbin/llconvert [-vnrp?h] input_file [output_file]

OPTIONS

       Restore new format to old format.  Verbose. Display lines while converting.  Do not preserve contents of input file.  Formatted print only.
       Do not convert. (May be used with the -r option).  Display usage message.

DESCRIPTION

       The llconvert command reads records from the lastlog file, such as /var/adm/lastlog, and converts the record format to the  updated  struct
       lastlog	format.  If  no  output file is specified or if the output file path is identical to the input file path, llconvert makes a backup
       copy of the original input file using the following algorithm: If filename.orig exists.	Where n is a unique number.

       The llconvert command attempts to detect an input file that is in the wrong format (for example, input file is already a new format  file).
       A warning message is issued in this case, but conversion continues.

RETURN VALUES

       Success.  An error occurred.

EXAMPLES

       To convert an old format accounting file to the new format: llconvert /var/adm/lastlog.prev

	      Upon  completion	of  this  command,  /var/adm/lastlog.prev  will have been converted to the new format. The original /var/adm/last-
	      log.prev is renamed to:

	      /var/adm/lastlog.prev.orig To convert a lastlog file in new format to the old format: llconvert -r  /var/adm/lastlog  /var/adm/last-
	      log.old

FILES

       Lastlog header file that defines the format for the lastlog file.  The active lastlog file.

SEE ALSO

       Commands: finger(1)

																      llconvert(8)