Gnome Desktop: Forgot root/user password

English Install/Boot/Login
1

Hi All,

I have forgotten my root/user Password. But I somehow have my desktop open. I do not know how it opened.

Help needed to recover/reset passwd.

Kindest Regards,

RSP2

2

If you installed your system for auto-login, that would be how you have a desktop session.

Best not to use auto-login. That way you have to login every time, and you are then less likely to forget your password.

You will need to boot to rescue media to fix this.

I think this will work:

(1) Boot rescue media – booting the install DVD in rescue mode would be a good choice.

(2) Mount your root partition at “/mnt”. Use a command something like

mount /dev/sdaX /mnt

but change the “sdaX” to the root partition of your installed system

(3) Some additional mounts


mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev
mount --bind /sys /mnt/sys
mount --bind /proc /mnt/proc

(4) You can now “chroot” into your system

chroot /mnt

(5) The problem, at this stage, is that if your system uses “btrfs”, then it isn’t really fully mounted. So, in your “chroot” session, try:

mount -a

and that should mount what is missing (I hope). I can’t test this because I am not using “btrfs”.

(6) While still in your “chroot” session:

passwd root

That should allow you to set a new password for the root user. And make sure that you remember it.

(7) Exit from the “chroot” session

exit

(8) Reboot

 shutdown -r now

After rebooting into your system, you still won’t know the user password. But you will at least know the root password. So I hope you know how to proceed from there. Or ask if you need help with that.

3

Thanks a lot for your speedy reply in help, Global Moderator,

Will be trying your suggestion right away. Shall come back about the result.

Regards,

RSP2

4

Hi Global Moderator,

Thanks a lot for your precise and speedy guidance. The password is changed.

Warm Regards,

RSP2

5

Thanks for reporting back.