Re: When fogetting assigned login name rather than password
On Sat, 15 Mar 2014 09:34:22 -0500
Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> wrote:
> Andrei POPESCU wrote:
> > [1] not sure how this works with a disabled root account though, in
> > case you chose this during installation. Would a kind list
> > subscriber with such a setup please test and clarify this for us?
>
> I'm about to do one of my routine disk wipes. Tell me what
> initial conditions you wish and what test procedure and I'll be
> happy to do it. The install medium will be Debian 6.0.5 DVD 1 of
> 8 with no internet connection.
Before wiping, just for the fun of it, use either a live CD or Tom's
pass 'init=/bin/sh' to the kernel method to access the hard drive,
mount the normal root partition of your machine, edit /etc/passwd, and
erase the x that's the second field (fields are delineated by colons)
in your regular login. This leaves your regular name without password,
meaning you can just press Enter when queried for a password.
Disconnect from the network (for security, you now have no
password), reboot, and immediately, use the passwd command to give your
regular login a password. When asked for your current password, just
press Enter.
Once you're in, type
su -
and you can have your way with the machine.
HTH,
SteveT
Steve Litt * http://www.troubleshooters.com/
Troubleshooting Training * Human Performance
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