Locked out of Linux? (Forgotten OS password)

[ken]

Hello all,

I went to a rummage sale today and left with a cheap HP DV9000 laptop computer.

The problem is the computer is running Sabayon Linux, and the last owner forgot the OS's password.

Would anyone know where I can find info on removing the password so I can get this one running?

Thank you,
ken

[Steve A.]

Have you tried booting it up with a flash drive running something like Ubuntu? I've heard that works on laptops running Windows...

HTH

Steve Ahola

[The Dude]

If it has a COA sticker on it, I'd just reformat it. If you have a valid COA, you should be able to get a disc for next to nothing, or borrow a friend's (or maybe you have one?). That is, unless you want to find out what kind of porn the previous owner was into.

[Joe L]

Hello all,

I went to a rummage sale today and left with a cheap HP DV9000 laptop computer.

The problem is the computer is running Sabayon Linux, and the last owner forgot the OS's password.

Would anyone know where I can find info on removing the password so I can get this one running?

Thank you,
ken

You need to boot into single user mode. When you get there, run "passwd" to reset the user password. I know this isn't a lot of info, but use google to find the details.

Actually, I would just download the latest Sabayon linux live cd and do a fresh install. It shouldn't take very long to do.

[bob p]

No linux install is secure against anyone that has physical access to the box. To make it harder for someone to root the box, it's a good idea to password protect Grub. But most people don't bother. That makes it simple for anyone with access to the keyboard to reset the root password and own the box. Here's how you do it -- no reinstall required:

* boot up
* when grub loads, use the arrows to select the boot entry you want to modify.
* press e to edit the entry
* use the arrows to go to kernel line
* press e to edit this entry
* at the end of the line add the word "single"
* press ESC to go back to the parent menu
* press b to boot this kernel

when you're at the root prompt, use the "passwd" command to reset the root password. you now own the box.

[DrGonz78]

I have cracked and/or blanked a password on XP machines before. That is quite easy using a linux/unix kernal to run a cracker or just update the SAM file. As far as this working on a linux box that has a shadow protected file it will be much more difficult and time consuming.

Edit: Do what Bob said... lol!

[bob p]

cracking is only required if you don't have physical access to the box. that's the way people defeat password protection via remote access.

but if you have physical access to the box, merely putting the word "single" on the kernel parameter line at boot-up will bypass all password protection, and boot you directly into the root account. no cracking required.

this demonstrates why it's imperative to restrict physical access to the box if you want to protect the data that's on it. the only real safeguard against this type of attack is to encrypt your OS and hard disks, and require an encryption key to be provided at boot time.

[big_teee]

cracking is only required if you don't have physical access to the box. that's the way people defeat password protection via remote access.

but if you have physical access to the box, merely putting the word "single" on the kernel parameter line at boot-up will bypass all password protection, and boot you directly into the root account. no cracking required.

this demonstrates why it's imperative to restrict physical access to the box if you want to protect the data that's on it. the only real safeguard against this type of attack is to encrypt your OS and hard disks, and require an encryption key to be provided at boot time.

Bob, Good Job!
I'm Impressed!
T

[Steve A.]

Unix sounds like a good operating system but why does it have to sound like "eunuchs"? "Cracking is only required if you don't have physical access to the eunuch's box" sounds downright disgusting to me!

[bob p]

Unix sounds like a good operating system but why does it have to sound like "eunuchs"? [sic]

That's because the original name for the OS was Unics, which is pretty darned close to eunichs.

From Wikipedia:

In 1970, Peter Neumann coined the project name Unics (UNiplexed Information and Computing Service) as a pun on Multics, (Multiplexed Information and Computer Services).[11] Eventually, Unics supported multiple simultaneous users, and it was renamed Unix.

[ken]

I tried Bob P's suggestion but couldn't get it to work, so I downloaded a new copy of Sabayon 5. This installed OK from a thumb drive, but wouldn't play DVD's or communicate with my wireless router. Even worse, for some reason installing Sabayon on my thumb drive fried the drive - I could use it once to load the OS to this computer, but now the drive will not read or write. Weird.

I ended up getting a copy of Ubuntu 13.4? and trying this, and right now I'm using it.

I'm looking at various 'flavors', I'm thinking of trying Peppermint next.

ken

[big_teee]

I tried Bob P's suggestion but couldn't get it to work, so I downloaded a new copy of Sabayon 5. This installed OK from a thumb drive, but wouldn't play DVD's or communicate with my wireless router. Even worse, for some reason installing Sabayon on my thumb drive fried the drive - I could use it once to load the OS to this computer, but now the drive will not read or write. Weird.

I ended up getting a copy of Ubuntu 13.4? and trying this, and right now I'm using it.

I'm looking at various 'flavors', I'm thinking of trying Peppermint next.

ken

In the last year I've tried a bunch of different versions of Linux.
My favorite is Linux Mint 15.
You can download either 32 or 64 bit, and you can make your desktop look just like XP.
It is the number 1 downloaded distrobution.
Is very user friendly.
I like the version with Mate Desktop.
Distribution Release: Linux Mint 15 (DistroWatch.com News)
Main Page - Linux Mint
If you Don't know if your 32 bit or 64 bit, stick with the 32 bit, it will work on either system.

[Steve Conner]

Q: What's the biggest problem with Unix?
A: They don't have any genitals.

Somehow it doesn't seem to stop Linux distros breeding like rabbits. I lost track long ago of which is the latest fashionable one. We are now using Ubuntu 12.04 and 13.x at work.

[bob p]

I tried Bob P's suggestion but couldn't get it to work...

how far did you get? where in the process did you fail?

Even worse, for some reason installing Sabayon on my thumb drive fried the drive - I could use it once to load the OS to this computer, but now the drive will not read or write. Weird.

try reformatting the drive. some install programs will re-partition and re-format the drive to oddball specs, rendering the drive unusable for any other purpose.

[Zipslack]

I'm going to second the Mint 15 suggestion - it's probably THE best distro for newbies because everything pretty much works like it should. Sabayon is a distro for "power users" and can be a real pain to deal with if you're not familiar with Linux.

As far as the thumb drive, sometimes they just crap-out - I've had it happen under Windows and Linux. No rhyme or reason, just sometimes they decide to go brain-dead. If there's sensitive information on it, apply a reasonable amount of force with a hammer to the chip inside the plastic housing.

One last suggestion, if you think you want Windows, install that first, then do the linux install. Windows can't/won't recognize linux installations and you can't boot the linux partition if you install Windows after linux.