Forgot Pasword for Redhat!

[snootalope]

Hi,
I'm trying to get into my bosses old computer (he got fired ), which is linux redhat version 2 i believe. Actually I don't even know the user name. Is there a crack or something or a file I could modify in DOS that would allow me to reset that stuff? I would really like to get into this thing without having to wipe the drive... Its not a server or anything, just a pc that was sittin around and I'd like to get into it!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Snooter Knowing everything about pc's would be like knowing everything about women! Why do they do the things they do???

 

[garwain]

at the lilo prompt type "linux single" (if in graphical mode press esc first)

this should boot the computer into single user mode and won't have to log in.

I'm not at a linux box right now to test but I think you'll be able to browse the /etc/passwd file to see what users exists and passwd <user> to change their passwords. You might have to mount a few partitions first though. It's been a while since I've had to &quot;break in&quot; to a system. Also, that version of linux is a foggy memory.

Hope this helps.
Ben

 

[snootalope]

well,
maybe i said the wrong version..
After loading i get to a screen that has Login: on it with Session, Language, System at the top for options.. when I hit Esc and it does nothing but pull down those menues.. I put in linux single and then it wants a password of course and I can't get passed that!! help?!? Knowing everything about pc's would be like knowing everything about women! Why do they do the things they do???

 

[katamann]

Sounds like the computer is booting into X, but that doesn's matter, because you can &quot;hack&quot; it at startup.

When you reboot your the machine, at the very start, either a redhat logo pops up, or a text console with the word 'lilo:'. If the graphical logo pops up you have to press ctrl-x for text mode. Then you get the lilo prompt. type 'linux s', and the machine should boot up in single user mode. Loggin straight in without password. Now you can change the root password with the command 'passwd'.

If this description doesn't apply at all, there are lots of ways to protect a computer from this method, and it may have been done. Most people don't, though.

You could also put the hardisk in another linux machine, and mount it manually. Then you can edit '/ets/passwd' of the disk.

Hope this make sense

-Katamann

 

[d3funct]

I wrote a FAQ and placed it in the LINUX(server) forum on this site. The URL is

http://www.tek-tips.com/faqs.cfm?spid=54&sfid=403&CFID=58171344&CFTOKEN=73235539

. Check that out, even if lilo is password protected this FAQ will tell you how to get in, just follow all the steps. Hope it helps.
The software required `Windows 95 or better', so I installed Linux.

 

[snootalope]

Ok,
I tryed the ctl+X and it didn't do anything for me.. it just sits at that same screen.. at the very begining of the boot process i get a screen where I can choose the what OS to boot or Kernal something something.. (i'm not experienced at linux if you can't tell) At this screen i can hit 'c' and it takes me to a grub> prompt?!?! what the heck is a grub!!
Anyway, i can get to a DOS prompt and that is about the closest thing to a lilo promt, i think, as i can get...
I'm up for anything here guys, so lay it on and i'll keep trying!! I really appreciate it!!
Snooter Knowing everything about pc's would be like knowing everything about women! Why do they do the things they do???

 

[bmathieu]

Reboot the system, and when you are at the prompt where you can select which operating system, highlight the line for linux and press 'e'. You may only have 2 seconds to do this, so be quick. This will take you to a similar screen with 3 entries, select the entry that begins with 'kernel' and press 'e' again. Append to the end of that line ' single' (without the single quotes). Make sure that there is a space between what's there and 'single'. Hit Enter and the new 'kernel' line should have 'single' at the end. Press 'b' to boot into Single User Mode. When the computer finishes it's bootup sequence, you must change the root (superuser) password to allow you into the system. There will be a 'sh-2.05#' prompt (or something similar). Type 'passwd' and then enter the new password. It will ask you to retype the new password, do so. If it tells you that the password is BAD, and based on a dictionary word, ignore this, as it will accept the new password anyway. (you may want to think of a more secure password!). It will respond with 'passwd: all authentication tokens updated successfully'. Type 'reboot' and when the computer boots up without your intervention, you should be able to log in as 'root' with the password that you just entered.

Good luck!
Blayne Mathieu
RHCE 7.2

 

[snootalope]

BRAVO!!!
Thanks alot Blayne!! It worked just like you said, word for word!! Knowing everything about pc's would be like knowing everything about women! Why do they do the things they do???

 

[Guest_imported]

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[DeathMaster1]

I have a new harddrive with linux on it and I can't get passed the loggin. Anyone know a good crack for this?????

 

[fluid11]

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