Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!aplcen!haven!adm!news From: tims%com@uunet.uu.net (Tim Sesow (Rocky Mntn)) Newsgroups: comp.unix.internals Subject: Re: Getting to root when the password has been lost Message-ID: <24428@adm.BRL.MIL> Date: 7 Sep 90 23:58:08 GMT Sender: news@adm.BRL.MIL Lines: 9 The only way to get back into root once you have lost the password is to boot the system in single-user mode. The UNIX installation manual for your system probably tells how to do this. It varies from system to system. Once you are in single user mode, edit the /etc/password file to remove the password (second field in line that starts with "root"). Then just type a CONTROL-D to start up in multi-user mode, login as root (no password required), and set a new password.