no shell -> HELP!!!

[sixtoedsloth]

hi, i now have /etc/passwd showing roots shell as /bin/bash
and ive never installed bash, so i cant login as root
and aparently noone has touched it! ho-hum!

so how can i change roots shell back to /bin/sh???

all help appreciated!!

russ

 

[PHV]

If your root password is not changed, you can try this:

su root -c 'vi /etc/passwd'

Hope This Help
PH.

 

[sixtoedsloth]

hi PHV,

didnt work, still said "no shell"

i also tried ftp, get passwd, vi passwd , put passwd
but ive not got permissions to write it!

any other ideas? "he uttered in a small, hopeless voice"

russ

 

[sixtoedsloth]

Hi,

i solved it! i did an init 1
changed the file and brought her back up

sorted!!

cheers anyway

Russ

 

[fredericofonseca]

if you have another user with permission to write to /bin you can try and create a link from /bin/sh to /bin/bash.

If you can't do the above try the following.

1- boot in single user mode, and to to system maintenance.
I am not sure if in this case it will complain about the "no shell", but it is worth a try.

2-Boot with your "rescue" floppys, mount the HD and change the files.
If this SCO is a 5.xx you may also be able to boot from the normall install floppy/cd, and by going to the command line you are also able to mount the HD and change things, this in case you do not have the "rescue" bit.




Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com