I have currently been assigned a project on Linux. I am using Redhat Linux and I installed it fine onto a standalone machine. I setup a few user passwords for my family and friends so they could use the machine. The I tried to put a mouse config command into the memory, so the mouse would work automtically when I went into X-Windows. the system hung before I could save anything. When I relogged on as root, my password had been dropped, as had 3 of the other user passwords. Can I get these passwords back somehow, or will I have to reformat the disk? I f I have to reformat the disk...how can that be done without the root password?

"When I relogged on as root, my password had been dropped"<p>
explain that statement. epecially "dropped".<br>
what version of Redhat are you using?

: "When I relogged on as root, my password had been dropped"<p>
: explain that statement. epecially "dropped".<p>
it woudn't let me in with those passwords. it was like they had been replaced.<br>
Noone else here knows the passwords, and so couldn't have changed them. and noone here would be able to save/use the computer anyway.<p>
: what version of Redhat are you using?<p>
5.0?<p>
<br>

boot in single user mode; this will allow you to log on as root from the local console w/o a password. You can then used 'passwd' to reset the root password.<p>
_m<br>

: boot in single user mode; this will allow you to log on as root from the local console w/o a password. You can then used 'passwd' to reset the root password.<p>
OK...now I'm going to look horrendously stupid (that's nothing new..) but how do I do that? As I said...I'm a total beginner to Linux...and my books on Lonux say nothing of how to boot as a single-user....<p>

Hmmm, guess I should check this board more than once in a blue moon ;)<p>
<br>
You can pass parameters to the kernel in lilo by<br>
appending them to the LILO command line; to<br>
boot in single mode you need to type a "1" after your <br>
normal kernel selection in LILO.<p>
In other words, if at the LILO prompt you normally <br>
type 'linux' [or if you just hit return/let it timeout], <br>
then instead enter 'linux 1' --this will boot into single user mode.<p>
_m<p>
: : boot in single user mode; this will allow you to log on as root from the local console w/o a password. You can then used 'passwd' to reset the root password.<p>
: OK...now I'm going to look horrendously stupid (that's nothing new..) but how do I do that? As I said...I'm a total beginner to Linux...and my books on Lonux say nothing of how to boot as a single-user....<p>