forgot root password

8 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/forgot-root-password.30770/

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

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

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.

tried these but..

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

See if this thread works *www.thinkdigit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19197&highlight=root+password
BTW, please make a search. Lot of threads exist on the same topic.

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....

Sorry for confirming late but this works great !

Thanks to swatkat

swatkat said:
Hi,
Check out this page:-
*aplawrence.com/Linux/lostlinuxpassword.html

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..............