forgot root password

[cyberzook]

Is there any way to reset root password ? My friend has forgotten it. Want to avoid re-install..

[kalpik]

Boot into runlevel 3 and do sudo passwd root. Then just enter the new password.

[JGuru]

After booting if you want to find out in what run-level you are, you can type 'runlevel'
at the Tterminal Window. That gives your current runlevel. You can switch to a
different runlevel by giving the command ' telinit <runlevel>' .In your case 'telinit 3'
at the Terminal Window. This command terminates all the processes and boots again
at the specified runlevel.

[cyberzook]

tried these but..

firstly...telinit needs su mode to run
2nd ....."sudo passwd root" needs root password itself to run

[mehulved]

See if this thread works Root passwd
BTW, please make a search. Lot of threads exist on the same topic.

[Kniwor]

if u have a bootable CD, then boot, navigate to /etc and open the shadow file, delete the hashes in front of the root and save the file, dont forget to take backup...

this will empty your root password....

[cyberzook]

Sorry for confirming late but this works great !

Thanks to swatkat

Originally Posted by swatkat

Hi,
Check out this page:-
http://aplawrence.com/Linux/lostlinuxpassword.html

[nitish_mythology]

I recoved my root password in Ubuntu....
Booted into Ubuntuery Recovery Mode
Then issued a command, i think it was passwd Root
After tht Typed the new one!


Everything is done..............