This article is from a FAQ concerning SCO operating systems. While some of the information may be applicable to any OS, or any Unix or Linux OS, it may be specific to SCO Xenix, Open Desktop or Openserver.

There is lots of Linux, Mac OS X and general Unix info elsewhere on this site: Search this site is the best way to find anything.

Unix, Xenix and ODT General FAQ

How do I reset the root password if I forget it? (part 2)

(For Linux, see http://www.aplawrence.com/Linux/lostlinuxpassword.html)

This is another procedure involving manually editing files, and is specific to SCO Unix 3.2v4.0 through 3.2v4.2. The location of the encrypted passwords depends on the security settings. Look in /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, and /tcb/files/auth/r/root; one or more of these will be used depending on how you have security configured. Follow the procedure in part 1 above; instead of editing /etc/passwd, edit the appropriate file(s) from the above list, and delete the encrypted password field. Note that formatting is critical; while you can delete the contents of the field, you must not remove separators, and making seemingly minor errors such as leaving blank lines can cause problems. Save, shut down, and reboot. C2 security will complain about what you've done; to make it happy, run /etc/fixmog. You may also want to run /tcb/bin/integrity and /etc/tcbck.

Click here to add your comments




Wed Dec 10 18:02:58 2008: Subject: How do I reset the root password if I forget it? (part 2)   anonymous


Hi, i have this problème with an old installation and the administrator of the system is dead. I have respected your recommandations but i cannot use vi or ed to view and edit these files /etc/passwd and or /etc/shadow. the system answer vi not found or ed not found. I have breaked out the installation after answer the keyboard type by pressing F8 and selecting Shell Escape. What is the command to view thes files ?
regards



Wed Dec 10 18:09:10 2008: Subject:   TonyLawrence


Is this 3.2v4.2?

Did you try /mnt/usr/bin/vi ?



Don't miss responses! Subscribe to Comments by RSS or by Email

Click here to add your comments

If you want a picture to show with your comment, go get a Gravatar

Unix and Linux Support

Jump to Comments

Many of the products and books I review are things I purchased for my own use. Some were given to me specifically for the purpose of reviewing them. I resell or can earn commissions from the sale of some of these items. Links within these pages may be affiliate links that pay me for referring you to them. That's mostly insignificant amounts of money; whenever it is not I have made my relationship plain. I also may own stock in companies mentioned here. If you have any question, please do feel free to contact me.

Specific links that take you to pages that allow you to purchase the item I reviewed are very likely to pay me a commission. Many of the books I review were given to me by the publishers specifically for the purpose of writing a review. These gifts and referral fees do not affect my opinions; I often give bad reviews anyway.

We use Google third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.