Re: Technical Inquiry

[Lisi Reisz <lisi.reisz@gmail.com>]

On Friday 20 March 2009 22:06:24 Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. wrote:
> On Friday 20 March 2009 11:57:29 Lisi Reisz wrote:
> >On Friday 20 March 2009 13:50:27 Jeffrey Cao wrote:
> >> It does not demands the root password. It just request you to give root
> >> a new password, which is the chance you could change root password
> >> without knowing the old one.
> >
> >We must have different installations.  I have used Etch and then Lenny for
> >some time and I cannot boot into single user without giving it the correct
> >(already existing) root password.
>
> It depends on your set-up.  When root has a valid password and is not
> disabled, you get a password prompt.  If the root account is disabled or
> has no password, you get a shell prompt.  If the root password is expired,
> you are asked to change it, possibly without being prompted for the old
> one.

Thanks!  I have never so far had to deal with a non-existent or expired 
password, which is, of course, why I don't see the other type of behaviour.  
I do indeed live and learn!

Lisi