[H-GEN] debian/sparc lost root password

[Igor Kromin]

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i did merge the original file with the modified one later.



-----Original Message-----
From: Majordomo [mailto:majordom at caliburn.humbug.org.au]On Behalf Of
Nikolai Lusan
Sent: Friday, June 21, 2002 4:07 PM
To: general at lists.humbug.org.au
Subject: RE: [H-GEN] debian/sparc lost root password


[ Humbug *General* list - semi-serious discussions about Humbug and     ]
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On Fri, 21 Jun 2002, Robert Brockway wrote:

> > then of course cat /dev/null > /etc/passwd
> Brutal :)  Consider using sed or ed to edit the file.  Blowing away the
> passwd (or shadow file as appropriate) is dangerous even if you intend to
> retype it from another box as there are many variations that come out with
> distributions (and there are many additional users often added to
> machines).

I agree with Rob here, this is a tad extreme. If you magaged to use
emacs to create a root entry then you could have just changed the
relevant part of the file. If you really wanted the file to have nothing
in it just move it somewhere else then put it back once you have a root
login. You will find that unless you go and get a copy of another debian
passwd file and put it in place - or walk around the system with  ls -l
trying to decipher what user should own what and then creating
accounts - then you are going to have problems with some software
complaining about ownership of files (squid is notable for this).


Nikolai


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