Is it possible to login as root in this situation?

Question

The Ubuntu server has been not used for about three months and it works not well. When I try to run it the start process stuck on "stopping system V runlevel compatibility". I searched this forum and found and followed this post, and then I got to the login screen by pressing ctrl alt F1. But I don't know the root password and any accounts' name and passwords.

I have tried to break into it without password following another post by rebooting and pressing shift key, but it doesn't work. I was told to enter the password or ctrlD to continue. not the prompt but passwd needed

Is it possible for me to login in this situation?

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:23

1

Following this post when I'm here I need to enter E (don't hit enter) to edit the setting.

And then I navigate to this screen and go to the fourth line(starting with linux /boot/vm....to revovery \nomodeset) from the end and replace recovery \nomodeset with quiet splash rw init=/bin/bash. Last hit F10 to resume the booting, and you'll see a prompt and enter passwd to set a new password for root.

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:23

Community

1

answered Jul 14 '16 at 01:57

Lerner Zhang

251

reference: http://www.linuxdiyf.com/linux/6680.html – Lerner Zhang Jul 14 '16 at 02:01
can be done too, but not recommend as this is not proper boot. Only usable as last resort – Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy Jul 14 '16 at 02:13

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 13 '16 at 09:21

0

That's fairly easy - http://google.com/?q=ubuntu+reset+forgotten+root+password

Which leads to the well-hidden first entry: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LostPassword

answered Jul 13 '16 at 09:21

Phillip -Zyan K Lee- Stockmann

2,353

No, the shift doesn't work. – Lerner Zhang Jul 13 '16 at 09:54
did you try ESC, too? The timeframe sometimes is very small, as in some configurations the grub menu isn't shown due to screen flickering. – Phillip -Zyan K Lee- Stockmann Jul 13 '16 at 10:02
Yeah, the ESC works and I can resume the system following this: http://askubuntu.com/questions/24006/how-do-i-reset-a-lost-administrative-password, but it stops in the same place showing "stopping system V runlevel compatibility" – Lerner Zhang Jul 13 '16 at 10:40
So, now you should be able to change the root password using the recovery menu item (as described in http://askubuntu.com/questions/24006/how-do-i-reset-a-lost-administrative-password). after that try Ctrl+Alt+F1or Ctrl+Alt+F2 to login as root. does that work? – Phillip -Zyan K Lee- Stockmann Jul 13 '16 at 10:57
yeah, I am in the place after entering on root. But it tells me that "give root password for maintenance(or type control-D to continue):" No prompt as said in that link site. – Lerner Zhang Jul 13 '16 at 11:24
Try booting an ubuntu usb stick to "try ubuntu" and mount the local hard drive to /mnt. then you can chroot /mnt /bin/bash and change the password. – Phillip -Zyan K Lee- Stockmann Jul 13 '16 at 11:28

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 14 '16 at 02:11

You should have used your sudo user password, would have been enough. Otherwise, not possible, especially if root is disabled( which it is by default on Ubuntu ) . if you need to recover data from it, remove hard drive, use USB to SATA connector ( fairly cheap on Amazon) to connect it to another computer.

If you have encryption on the drive, you're not gonna get any far. Consider reinstalling the OS

Is it possible to login as root in this situation?

3 Answers3