Locked out! How to change password with knoppix?

Newsgroups: uk.comp.os.linux
From: Anthony Campbell <me@privacy.net>
Subject: Locked out! How to change password with knoppix?
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Summary:

I suddenly found neither my user nor my root passwords work on my
laptop. I can only guess I was hacked last night. Single user mode is no
help.

This is URGENT because I need to use the machine tomorrow. I can get
into it with knoppix but what files should I delete/modify in /etc
so as to be able to boot with no password?

If all else fails I shall have to reinstall the system but it is a last
resort.


Anthony

--
Using Linux GNU/Debian - Windows-free zone
http://www.acampbell.org.uk (book reviews,
Assassins, homeopathy, and skeptical articles).
Email: replace "www" with "ac@"

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Anthony Campbell wrote:
> Newsgroups: uk.comp.os.linux
> From: Anthony Campbell <me@privacy.net>
> Subject: Locked out! How to change password with knoppix?
> Organization:
> Reply-To:
> Followup-To:
> Keywords:
> Summary:
>
> I suddenly found neither my user nor my root passwords work on my
> laptop. I can only guess I was hacked last night. Single user mode is no
> help.
>
> This is URGENT because I need to use the machine tomorrow. I can get
> into it with knoppix but what files should I delete/modify in /etc
> so as to be able to boot with no password?

Boot up with Knoppix, and log on as root
Mount your hd somewhere
Edit the HD /etc/passwd
- delete the second field of the 'root' password entry (the text
between the first and second colons), so that the entry looks
something like
root::0:0::/root:/bin/bash
- save this change, and exit the editor
Unmount your hard disk
Log out
Reboot from your HD

> If all else fails I shall have to reinstall the system but it is a last
> resort.

You should never have to resort to "the Microsoft fix" for Linux
problems <grin>.

>
> Anthony
>

Luck be with you, Anthony

- --

Lew Pitcher, IT Consultant, Enterprise Application Architecture
Enterprise Technology Solutions, TD Bank Financial Group

(Opinions expressed here are my own, not my employer's)
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