How To: Reset Admin/Root Password at Rick Tech

February 20, 2008

How To: Reset Admin/Root Password

How To: Reset Admin/Root Password

Anyone who has been in the IT business for any length of time knows literally hundreds of passwords. As we get older though it becomes harder and harder to remember each password and continue with safe security practices. Many companies have gone to centralized password systems. But such software is not always compatible with every OS there is. In such cases as the four year old FreeBSD server sitting in the corner that serves one application. So, here is a large list on ways to reset the root password or administrative user on many operating systems. Keep in mind that these instructions all assume you have physical access to the server in question.

FreeBSD (all versions)

Turn Server off. Hitting the Power Button should start a shutdown cycle.
Hit ESC when the OS starts booting
Choose option 4 to boot into Single User Mode
When asked for a shell, hit enter to default to /bin/sh
Once the machine is booted and you see the hash, type
1. mount -u /
2. mount -a
Type passwd to reset the password
Enter new password and confirm it. “pam_chauthok(): error in service module” means that the filesystem is not mounted. Follow step 5 again.
Type reboot or hit the power button again to reboot the machine normally.

Linux (Lilo Loader)

Reboot machine
Hit Esc to get to boot prompt if it doesn’t to it automatically
type: linux single
type: passwd
Enter in and confirm new password
type: sync
type: reboot

Linux (GRUB loader)

Reboot machine
Hit Esc to get to boot prompt if it doesn’t to it automatically
Select the Kernal. Hopefully there is only one or two and the names are descriptive. But any one SHOULD work.
type: e
Select the line that starts with “Kernal”
type: e (again)
Add the letter s (in lower case) to the very end of the line
Hit Enter
type the letter b to start booting
Mount the drives type:
1. mount -t proc proc /proc
2. mount -o remount,rw /
type: passwd
Enter in new password and confirm it
type: sync
type: reboot

OS X (All Versions) OS X has two ways to reset the Administrator Password.

Option 1:

Find the computer’s original boot disc. These are system specific. If it’s not available, any OS X retail boot disk will work. The wrong disc will give an error message.
Boot off the disc. Accomplish by holding down the c key during power up.
At the Menu go to: Utilities
Choose “Reset Password”
Enter in new password and confirm
Click on Installer
Choose Quit

Option 2:

Hold Down Apple+S while booting computer
Type: sh /etc/rc
Type: passwd root (if that doesn’t work try admin or administrator instead of root)
Enter in new password and confirm
Type: reboot

Solaris (On Sun Hardware)

You must have the Solaris CDRom to do this. If you do not have physical media, get it here. Note that this download is for Ver10, so may not work on older versions.

Reboot Machine
Hit Stop +A to get to the OK prompt
Type: boot cdrom -s
Once booted off the CDRom, type: mount /dev/disk/c0t0d0s0 /a (those are Zeros)
Type: vi /a/etc/shadow
Use the h,j,k,l keys to move around in vi (or go here for more commands)
On the second line, which says root:<bunch of random letters/numbers> type: dd
Type: :wq! to save and quit out of vi
Type: umount /a
Type: boot ok -s (to boot into single user mode)
Type: passwd
Enter in new password and confirm it
Type: reboot

Note that many Solaris systems may have mirrored volumes, a volume manager or other method of copying the full filesystem. If this is the case these instructions will need to be followed for both volumes, otherwise corruption can easily occur.

Solaris (i386/Intel Hardware)

Again you should have the CDRomto boot off of.

Reboot Computer
Enter Bios and Change Boot Order to CDRom first if needed
Boot Computer
On Boot Menu choose Single User mode, which is Option 6 on Solaris 10
Choose Yes when asked to mount the root filesystem
1. If you choose “No” it can still be mounted with the same command, /dev/disk/c0t0d0s0 /a (those are Zeros)
Type: vi /a/etc/shadow
Use the h,j,k,l keys to move around in vi (or go here for more commands)
On the second line, which says root:<bunch of random letters/numbers> type: dd (to delete whole line)
Type: :wq! to save and quit out of vi
Typ: cd /
Type: umount /a
Type: init s
At password prompt hit enter key
Type: passwd root
Enter in new password and confirm it
Type: reboot

General Windows

Amazingly Windows Server does not have an easy way to recover the password. Microsoft would call this security, but do provide a package of recovery software that does the job. But it costs $199. Tech Trax has an article on reseting the password on XP system via the XP install disc. Or you can download an emergency boot cd from here, here, or buy a password cracker from here. Be extremely careful with downloading Windows password crackers from the Internet. Yes they may work, but it’s more likely they are actually a Virus or a Trojan and could cause more problems then you have already.

*edit* Hiren’s BootCD has several utilities that will allow the reseting of Windows passwords.

Windows 7
This does not reset the password, but allows you to make a new Administrative user who can then change the password in the control panel for the other user.

Boot off your Windows 7 DVD
Choose “Repair your computer”
Go to the recovery environment
Open command prompt
Type “cd \windows\system32″
Type “Rename Utilman.exe Utilman.exe.bak”
Type Copy cmd.exe Utilman.exe
Reboot Computer
At Login Screen, hold down the Windows and “U” keys
Type net user /add NewAccount mypassword (use your own name for NewAccount)
Type net localgroup administrators NewAccount /add (replace NewAccount with the name used above
Login with new user
Go to Start -> Control Panel -> User Accounts and Family Safety
Click on User Accounts
At the bottom of “Make changes to your user account area” click “Manage another account”
Choose old user
Click “Change Password”
Enter the new password
Logout of the current account
Login to the old account with the new password

Windows 8
User the Microsoft Diagnostic and Recovery Tools (download here) to reset the password.

Hacking,How To,Microsoft / 30 Comments Tags: admin, FreeBSD, Linux, mac, Microsoft, os x, password, reset, root, server, solaris, Steps, Windows 7, Windows 8, xp

24 Comment(s). Add a comment or Trackback

lenbabyluv ₪ 13:24 Dec 01, 2008 ✉

I am logged in as admin on my ibook g4. Do I need to log out completely in order to reset password without the start up disc? It will not reset the password. It is not my computer nor my admin account. I am afraid to log out and try this in fear of losing access to the o.s.
Rick ₪ 03:57 Dec 02, 2008 ✉

Nope. You do not need to log out to reset the password. If you do get logged out though, you can use option #2 under the OS X heading to reset the password.
Marco ₪ 20:37 Sep 21, 2009 ✉

Hi I Have Been Working With Windows Systems For A While Now. Often I Am Asked To Recover Data From Older Computers Which Often Means Getting Around Forgotten Passwords & By Far The Easiest Way To Get Around ANY Password On XP Is To Get A Copy Of ERD Commander, There Is A Password Recovery Application That Is Simple To Use. ERD Commander Comes With A Pack Called Hiphole Superboot or Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP). I Have Only Just Purchaced Vista Recently & I Am Yet To Try ERD Commanders Password Recovery. I Will Post Results.
dennis ₪ 02:38 Oct 05, 2009 ✉

I was given a MAC OS X by my mother in-law who didnt know squat about computers, and she dont remember her admin name or password. I reset the PW, but I still cant figure out her user name.How do i go about changing the name?
Rick ₪ 04:49 Oct 05, 2009 ✉

If she isn't using the admin user, but you can login as the admin user, if you go into System Preferences then Accounts (or Users) there is a list of all users available on the system. You can also create a new user there too if need be.
Niks ₪ 06:56 Dec 07, 2009 ✉

Will I lose all the photos and document on my laptop by doing so? Thank a lot if someone can help me out.
Rick ₪ 07:10 Dec 07, 2009 ✉

Nope, not unless they're already deleted.
Wally ₪ 13:56 Dec 21, 2009 ✉

I followed your instructions for Mac OS X, but upon startup, the blue progress bar goes from start to finish, but the computer never actually starts. What's the problem?
Rick ₪ 01:10 Dec 22, 2009 ✉

Hello Wally, this post: http://www.1nova.com/blog/?p=478 might help you better.
Chloe ₪ 23:46 Feb 01, 2010 ✉

Hi, Rick,
I tried your method, but after putting in passwd root it comes up with
launch_msg(): socket is not connected

Any idea what to do now?

P.S I just want to reset password, I need the files that I have saved there, so don't want to create a completely new admin.

Many thanks
Corin ₪ 04:33 Mar 12, 2010 ✉

Will this work if I have more than one user account?
Toz ₪ 18:36 Apr 18, 2010 ✉

Konboot can be used for most 32 bits OS. Systems will act as if no password were set.
jes ₪ 02:49 Oct 14, 2010 ✉

NONE OF THESE OPTIONS ARE WORKING FOR ME!!!! I dont get it!!!!!
Rick ₪ 03:48 Oct 14, 2010 ✉

Which option were you trying? Which Operating system? What error message did you get?
webdude ₪ 14:05 Nov 16, 2010 ✉

There's no such command as "passwrd" dude. It's "passwd".
Rick ₪ 14:18 Nov 16, 2010 ✉

Thank you for catching the typo.
Gleshka ₪ 17:20 Jan 25, 2011 ✉

I have a big Problem!!! i can login in my account no problem with my user name and password but when i want to download programs and require my pasword again the window says u must enter ur administrator user name and password so is like no reading what im typing also to get updates… well everything requires my pasword doesnt work…. i did the keychain access reset for password and nothing happens…i checked the language and is ok … what else can i try please!! im going crazy ((
Gaurao Domle ₪ 21:54 Feb 16, 2011 ✉

Thanks
Option 2: work for me

1. Hold Down Apple+S while booting computer
2. Type: sh /etc/rc
3. Type: passwd root (if that doesn’t work try admin or administrator instead of root)
4. Enter in new password and confirm
5. Type: reboot
Willem ₪ 16:46 Jul 06, 2011 ✉

For windows XP use PING (opensource): http://ping.windowsdream.com/ping.html
Gives an option to blank the administrator password
William ₪ 12:46 Nov 06, 2011 ✉

Hi, I used the OS X password reset for one of my friends and followed it…

When I typed in "sh /etc/rc" it said that the root folder didn't exist.

What am I doing wrong?
Heather ₪ 10:52 Mar 01, 2012 ✉

So option 2 for the mac OS X worked for me right up until I entered the new password. After I put it in, then reentered it, it just said "sorry".
praveen ₪ 21:04 May 13, 2012 ✉

hi ,how to break root password in solaris 10 when root is in svm mirror
Will ₪ 17:41 May 24, 2012 ✉

I tried typing sh /etc/rc and sh /etc/rc passwd root and all i got was No such file or directory and mine was a Mac Leopard.
Marz ₪ 14:52 Jan 08, 2013 ✉

currently facing password failure on my Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5. fear of losing folder if i reset password without OS X disc. I just want to reset password, I need the files that I have saved there, so don’t want to create a completely new admin.

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lenbabyluv ₪ 13:24 Dec 01, 2008 ✉

I am logged in as admin on my ibook g4. Do I need to log out completely in order to reset password without the start up disc? It will not reset the password. It is not my computer nor my admin account. I am afraid to log out and try this in fear of losing access to the o.s.

Rick ₪ 03:57 Dec 02, 2008 ✉

Nope. You do not need to log out to reset the password. If you do get logged out though, you can use option #2 under the OS X heading to reset the password.

Marco ₪ 20:37 Sep 21, 2009 ✉

Hi I Have Been Working With Windows Systems For A While Now. Often I Am Asked To Recover Data From Older Computers Which Often Means Getting Around Forgotten Passwords & By Far The Easiest Way To Get Around ANY Password On XP Is To Get A Copy Of ERD Commander, There Is A Password Recovery Application That Is Simple To Use. ERD Commander Comes With A Pack Called Hiphole Superboot or Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP). I Have Only Just Purchaced Vista Recently & I Am Yet To Try ERD Commanders Password Recovery. I Will Post Results.

dennis ₪ 02:38 Oct 05, 2009 ✉

I was given a MAC OS X by my mother in-law who didnt know squat about computers, and she dont remember her admin name or password. I reset the PW, but I still cant figure out her user name.How do i go about changing the name?

Rick ₪ 04:49 Oct 05, 2009 ✉

If she isn't using the admin user, but you can login as the admin user, if you go into System Preferences then Accounts (or Users) there is a list of all users available on the system. You can also create a new user there too if need be.

Niks ₪ 06:56 Dec 07, 2009 ✉

Will I lose all the photos and document on my laptop by doing so? Thank a lot if someone can help me out.

Rick ₪ 07:10 Dec 07, 2009 ✉

Nope, not unless they're already deleted.

Wally ₪ 13:56 Dec 21, 2009 ✉

I followed your instructions for Mac OS X, but upon startup, the blue progress bar goes from start to finish, but the computer never actually starts. What's the problem?

Rick ₪ 01:10 Dec 22, 2009 ✉

Hello Wally, this post: http://www.1nova.com/blog/?p=478 might help you better.

Chloe ₪ 23:46 Feb 01, 2010 ✉

Hi, Rick,
I tried your method, but after putting in passwd root it comes up with
launch_msg(): socket is not connected

Any idea what to do now?

P.S I just want to reset password, I need the files that I have saved there, so don't want to create a completely new admin.

Many thanks

Corin ₪ 04:33 Mar 12, 2010 ✉

Will this work if I have more than one user account?

Toz ₪ 18:36 Apr 18, 2010 ✉

Konboot can be used for most 32 bits OS. Systems will act as if no password were set.

jes ₪ 02:49 Oct 14, 2010 ✉

NONE OF THESE OPTIONS ARE WORKING FOR ME!!!! I dont get it!!!!!

Rick ₪ 03:48 Oct 14, 2010 ✉

Which option were you trying? Which Operating system? What error message did you get?

webdude ₪ 14:05 Nov 16, 2010 ✉

There's no such command as "passwrd" dude. It's "passwd".

Rick ₪ 14:18 Nov 16, 2010 ✉

Thank you for catching the typo.

Gleshka ₪ 17:20 Jan 25, 2011 ✉

I have a big Problem!!! i can login in my account no problem with my user name and password but when i want to download programs and require my pasword again the window says u must enter ur administrator user name and password so is like no reading what im typing also to get updates… well everything requires my pasword doesnt work…. i did the keychain access reset for password and nothing happens…i checked the language and is ok … what else can i try please!! im going crazy ((

Gaurao Domle ₪ 21:54 Feb 16, 2011 ✉

Thanks
Option 2: work for me

1. Hold Down Apple+S while booting computer
2. Type: sh /etc/rc
3. Type: passwd root (if that doesn’t work try admin or administrator instead of root)
4. Enter in new password and confirm
5. Type: reboot

Willem ₪ 16:46 Jul 06, 2011 ✉

For windows XP use PING (opensource): http://ping.windowsdream.com/ping.html
Gives an option to blank the administrator password

William ₪ 12:46 Nov 06, 2011 ✉

Hi, I used the OS X password reset for one of my friends and followed it…

When I typed in "sh /etc/rc" it said that the root folder didn't exist.

What am I doing wrong?

Heather ₪ 10:52 Mar 01, 2012 ✉

So option 2 for the mac OS X worked for me right up until I entered the new password. After I put it in, then reentered it, it just said "sorry".

praveen ₪ 21:04 May 13, 2012 ✉

hi ,how to break root password in solaris 10 when root is in svm mirror

Will ₪ 17:41 May 24, 2012 ✉

I tried typing sh /etc/rc and sh /etc/rc passwd root and all i got was No such file or directory and mine was a Mac Leopard.

Marz ₪ 14:52 Jan 08, 2013 ✉

currently facing password failure on my Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5. fear of losing folder if i reset password without OS X disc. I just want to reset password, I need the files that I have saved there, so don’t want to create a completely new admin.