You can reset the root password by booting to runlevel 1: To recover lost root password using GRUB boot loader: 1. Boot the affected system to the GRUB loader 2. Select your operating system and type E for edit 3. Select kernel and type E for edit 4. Select boot and add runlevel 1 to the end of the line 5. Press Enter and hit B for boot 6. At the sh prompt, use passwd to change the password 7. Reboot the PC Or, if by some strange chance you have lilo for your boot loader: To recover lost root password using LILO boot loader: 1. Boot the machine to the LILO prompt 2. Type linux 1 or linux single to enter single user mode 3. At the prompt, use passwd to change the password 4. Reboot Then you should be able to login as root with your new password and change passwords for other accounts as needed.
