How to remove Root password
Have 2006 installed without root password. Had to set a root password when installing driverloader which configures via a web interface ( it wouldn`t accept a blank password for root ). Would like to go back to passwordless root. Have tried blank entry in KDE configurator, but won`t save changes unless characters are entered. Also tried passwd in terminal, but again it will not accept just a return on password entry. Not the end of the world but any ideas ?
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Moohoohaha, looks like the passwd system is a bit too zealous of your security. You should trust it. Having no passwd for root (didn't even thought that was possible) is a bad bad bad bad bad idea.
As in bad bad bad bad bad bad idea. |
login as root and open /etc/shadow with a text editor.
"At the top of the file, you'll see a line starting with root. Right after root, you'll notice the encrypted password information between two colons. Here's how root's line in /etc/shadow might look: root:EnCl6vi6y2KjU:10266:0::::: To remove root's password, you use the editor to erase the scrambled text between the two colons, leaving a line that looks like this: root::10266:0::::: Save the file and reboot the machine, and you'll be able to log in as root without a password. The first thing you should do is set a new password for root, especially if your machine is connected to a network." This is from slackware-how-to but it should work for the vast majority of the distros. Be careful when messing with those stuff, and I wouldn't advise you to stay without a root password at all. It's really dangerous. |
This is one of those things that leads to Windows like problems on your Linux. If you don't have a root passowrd, then anyone can do what they want if they break into your system. Even local users can do as they wish without any limitation.
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Take a look at How to Reset forgotten Root passwords. All your issues will be cleared.:study:
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Hello, I am of course a newbie in the dark!
I purchased a nice computer at an auction, and have NO idea how to "get in to the OS, and it is password protected. I just want to get in and set up a new OS or at least learn how to use this new system! I am currently attending a vo-tech for computer repair and troubleshooting, but there is so little information about Linux... HELP! Please!!! I know how to set jumpers to reset bios in other OS's, but don't know if that will work in Linux...........sheesh, I feel dumb! During POST it lists gentoo linux and asks for tama-chan password? |
Thanks for the replies
Have decided to stay with a root password, only in as much as the driverloader web interface requires one. While I appreciate the security concerns, I found password less root convienient as a single user not logged on as root,instead of having to supply the root password everytime when tweaking, and I guess that is why Mandriva provides it as an option when installing . I don`t need to worry about others hacking in to break my machine, I do that often enough myself !
thanks Bangorscott |
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Newbie now Lost in Linux land.........
:scratch:
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Thank you, I did try to start a thread yesterday, but I guess I did something wrong...:scratch: The computer opens up with: enter current password, ( I changed it in the BIOS, User and supervisor) So I can get past this, and immediately, there is a red "lilo" screen with 'lilo 22.5.9' and only offers load "defaults". Then it boots through a lot of things like Apache 2, init:entering run level 3, etc. , all followed by the [OK], and finally; THis isTama-Chan.(none) (Linux i686 2.6.8.1) 04:02:04, then a single line: Tama-Chan Login: And the supervisor and user passwords I changed do absolutely nothing here.......I hate being ignorant!!!:confused: Thank you, Nelda Nelda |
FWIW I would say .... download (assuming you have a working computer) another linux distro, maybe a live CD and run that. Then decide if you like it and install it. And forget about the pre-installed lunux.
You obviously (unless I misread things) need to get the BIOS to boot from a CD rather than the HDD. If you are worried about tinkering with the BIOS - maybe linux is not for you ?? Oh ok you say you can get into the bios, well just boot from a CD and install another distro.. Good luck. |
BIOS changes!
AWWWW! I just got so 'freaked' with thinking of learning a NEW OS, that it never entered my feeble mind to just change the boot sequence......sheesh! Thank you, I am pretty overwhelmed with all the new information I am having to learn at school, ( I am over the hill about a mile..;) surrounded by teenie boppers who get their information by osmosis, you know, it justs jumps from their book into their brains!! all the while I have to read, re-read- read again---well, you get the point, I just ain't as quick as I used to be, but am determined to learn how to repair and upgrade my computers...at least then I won't be ripped off so often at the "shops"!!!!! Thank you so much for getting me back on a track I can follow! Nelda.............OLD OLD OLD school :D |
Good luck...
Unfortunately you'll still have to learn the OS once you have booted from the live CD .. ;-)) But as I have been finding over the past year IMO linux is getting more friendly and easier to use. At least a live CD and a new install will give you a clean slate and you can decide how you like it set up. Good luck .. and I am sure if you ask here ppl will help. Cheers ! |
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