Re: How to get or change root password

At 2 Nov 2006 08:18:33 -0800 laclac01@xxxxxxxxx wrote:


I have an embedded computer which I received from a company about 2
years ago. The company is now out of business, and I can't get any
support. When plugged in the computer displays everything to the
serial port, which I can access with minicom no problem. I am then get
a login prompt, I don't know roots password... How can I get this?
What are some ways I can find out? Or maybe reset the password? I
would like to be able to use this device again.

Are you able to boot it to single user mode? What does it use for a
boot manager?

Does it have a 'real' disk (eg IDE disk) or a silicon disk? If it has
a regular IDE disk, it should be possible to disassemble the computer,
remove the disk and attach the disk to a desktop system as either a
secondary master or as a slave disk (reguires a jumper change). Then
the desktop system (also running Linux) can be booted up and the
password file (on the embeded computer's transplanted disk!) edited (to
blank the root password).

Sometimes these embedded systems have a 'factory reset' option (usually
a hard to get to button that needs to be pressed during power on or
something) -- this would reset the root password to some factory
default, either no password or something dumb like 'password' or 'root'
or 'admin'.

Do you have the original documentation that came with this system?




--
Robert Heller -- 978-544-6933
Deepwoods Software -- Linux Installation and Administration
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.

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  • Re: How to get or change root password
    ... I have an embedded computer which I received from a company about 2 ... Does it have a 'real' disk or a silicon disk? ... the desktop system can be booted up and the ... blank the root password). ...
    (comp.os.linux.misc)
  • Re: How to get or change root password
    ... I have an embedded computer which I received from a company about 2 ... Does it have a 'real' disk or a silicon disk? ... the desktop system can be booted up and the ... blank the root password). ...
    (comp.os.linux.misc)
  • Re: How to get or change root password
    ... I have an embedded computer which I received from a company about 2 ... Does it have a 'real' disk or a silicon disk? ... the desktop system can be booted up and the ... blank the root password). ...
    (comp.os.linux.misc)
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