[Techtalk] Unknown root password

[David Sumbler]

On Wed, 2008-08-27 at 23:31 +0200, Wim De Smet wrote:
> On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 11:01 PM, David Sumbler <david at aeolia.co.uk> wrote:
> >[...]
> > If I boot Knoppix and log in as root, then presumably I can view all the
> > files on the hard drive.  But how can I reset root's password for the
> > installed system?
> >
> 
> Try if sudo works first, but if not what I do is edit /etc/shadow and
> just remove whatever is in the password bit for root, then log in with
> an empty password. Make sure you get the shadow file from the hard
> disk, not the one knoppix will likely also have. :-)

Thanks for that - I had thought of this, but wasn't sure whether it
would work, or whether the installed system would just hold up its hands
in horror at having no line for root in the file!

David

-- 
David Sumbler <david at aeolia.co.uk>