[NTLUG:Discuss] New to Linux and seeking assistance

[Stephen Davidson]

Hi James.

There is a way to clear the password if needed;
1) Boot computer from a trial/boot DVD/Flash/External Media.  Linux Mint
is a good one for this, but certainly not the only choice.
2) Mount the system drive with the /etc directory (normally the /
partition).
3) Using a text editor, modify the /etc/shadow file by finding the line
with the account to clear the password on and deleting all characters
for the field in question.  Repeat for multiple accounts.  See 'man
shadow' for the layout of the file.
4) Reboot computer from system media.
5) To log in, just hit <enter> for the password.
6) Set password IMMEDIATELY after logging in using the 'passwd' command
or other favorite password utility.

Regards,
Steve


> Greetings and thank you for allowing me to join.
>
> As a way of introduction, my name is James Good.  My amateur radio
> call sign is KD5VXH.  I live in the Northwest corner of Tarrant
> County, the Parker County/Tarrant County line is less than a mile from
> my house.
>
> My problem:  The computer that I use had been running Windows 10, with
> all of its constant updates/upgrades.  Almost every day I would find
> at least one, sometimes more, updates/upgrades had been made to the
> operating system and somewhat related changes had been made to other
> parts of other programs on the computer.  Those changes would need to
> be corrected if I wanted those other programs to work.  Those 'other
> programs' were all amateur radio related and used for digital mode
> operations on both HF and VHF/UHF.  The updates/upgrades from
> Microsoft became so frequent and so frustrating that last week I
> located a disk that I had burned with an iso of Ubuntu 18.04.1. 
> Thursday was the day I made the change after testing Ubuntu without
> installing it.  All seemed to work just fine.  And it works better
> than it ever did with Windows (especially any version after Xp).  I
> got the install disk to install Ubuntu to the computer (of course, all
> of the Windows files, programs, and data that had been enjoyed are now
> history). Over the past two or three days, I have been trying to learn
> how this new (to me) operating system really works.  If the install
> disk asked or prompted for a 'user password' during the install
> process, I don't remember seeing it.  And now, any time I try to add
> anything new using the Terminal application, I am asked for my
> password.  As stated, I don't remember seeing a prompt to enter a
> password during the install process.  Now, not knowing what that
> password might be (if one was set) it appears that there is very
> little I would be able to actually do other than a complete re-install.
>
> Is there any way to view the passwords that might be on the computer? 
> And how could I change any password already set if I can't get into
> the 'root' directory to make the change?
>
> Thank you in advance,
>
> James Good KD5VXH
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://www.ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss