Forgotten Password

[pingball57]

Hi Guys,
Yup, just tried to install gscan2pdf from command line & ...er I've forgotten my system password. I've rummaged thoroughly in my password book & can't find it anywhere. How scr^*ed am I ? 

[DeepThought]

Do you have a live cd/usb lying about. If so boot your system using it.

Then mount the root partition of your normal system and open /etc/passwd as root

Code:

sudo nano "root-partition"/etc/passwd

replace "root-partion" with the path to your mounted partition... DO NOT do sudo nano /etc/passwd as this will open the /etc/passwd of your live system.

you should see something like this :

Code:

root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash
daemon:x:1:1:daemon:/usr/sbin:/usr/sbin/nologin
bin:x:2:2:bin:/bin:/usr/sbin/nologin
sys:x:3:3:sys:/dev:/usr/sbin/nologin
sync:x:4:65534:sync:/bin:/bin/sync

The x denotes an encrypted passwd, so scroll down to your username and delete JUST the x, leave the : (colons) and everything else in the line as is.
Then Control-X, Y, and enter to save.
Reboot into your normal system and you should be able to log in without a password.
Don't forget to set a new passwd for yourself

Code:

sudo passwd "your-username"

Finally, don't forget this password

[valtam]

Help Manual > Install > Resetting your Password.

[pingball57]

thanks I'll try these tomorrow. It's bed time here.

[pingball57]

Thank you both for your assistance. I now have a password.    (oh yes and gscan2pdf )