Hi
On Tue, Nov 27, 2012 at 12:43:29AM +0000, Gary Roach wrote:
> I've done the unthinkable. I accidentally changed root to qroot in my
> /etc/passwd file and then proceeded to log out of root. All of the files
> in /etc were changed to owner qroot and the root password doesn't work
> any more. I have a new Knoppix CD and a new Debian network install CD.
> Can I use either of these to edit the passwd file and correct the
> problem. If so, how.
Easy. At the grub boot prompt, edit the kernel command line and add:
init=/bin/bash
This will start "/bin/bash" instead of the normal init scripts. Once
you get a shell prompt, beware that no daemons will be running, and
you only have the root file system available in read-only mode.
If you have /usr on a separate file system, then you probably want to:
# mount /usr
and then you can edit the password file:
# mount -oremount,rw /
# vi /etc/passwd
(You don't have to use vi - any text editor will do. But do not expect
a graphical one to work.)
Once done, umount things:
# umount /usr # if /usr is a separate file system
# mount -oremount,ro /
# sync
# reboot -fn
Hope this helps
--
Karl E. Jorgensen
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