Lost my Login ID and Password 1

[MarleneD]

Hi:

I have Red Hat Linux on a dual boot computer with Windows XP.

However I seem to have forgotten my login and/or password for Linux - at least the password I thought I used does not work

What would be the most painless way, I am not technically savvy, to gain access to the Linux section?

Thanks,

Marlene

 

[AP81]

You have forgotten the root password or your password?

If you have forgotten the root password, the easiest way would be to boot into single user mode and edit your /etc/shadow to remove the root password.

 

[MarleneD]

Thanks - your post helped

I had forgotten that the login id was 'root'

What a clutz

 

[franklin97355]

You should create a user account for yourself and use that for normal logins. Using root for the default login is not recommended.

 

[amitatharkar]

Yes AP81 is correct..
Boot u r PC in single user mode...
If ur using grub press "a" to edit kernel option and just append word "single" at last of the line....

If u r using lilo press contrll x at lilo screen and go to text mode....
enter "linux single" { Replace linux with u r text to boot linux} at boot: prompt


u r pc will boot to single user mode and you can change the passwd by using "passwd" command.

 

[MarleneD]

Thank you for your posts

Why is it not good to use 'root' as the default log-in?

Marlene

 

[fluid11]

Its a security risk. You should log in as a normal user and just "su" to root when needed (or use sudo, which is what I do). This is especially true if you log into the GUI as root and run insecure applications, such as IRC clients.



ChrisP
RHCE, LPIC-1, CCNA, CNE, MCSE, +10 others

 

[manarth]

Anyone who manages to hack into your PC or discovers your normal password will have full control of everything. Creating a seperate user will limit the damage done in the event of your system being compromised. It will also make it harder for a would-be intruder to gain access.

Creating a seperate user account is absolutely standard: as a guess, I'd say over 98% of linux users reserve 'root' for installing new programs or performing system maintenance.

<marc> i wonder what will happen if i press this...[ul][li]please give feedback on what works / what doesn't[/li][li]need some help? how to get a better answer: faq581-3339[/li][/ul]