Can't seem to change the root password...

Hello:
It seems I assigned a hardware password (you dummy...) and was able -I think- to delete the hardware password, so I can now get it to boot into single user mode.

I tried this command several times-

sh /etc/rc &

This command doesn't do what the manual says it will.  I always used the same root password for all my machines, but I outsmarted myself and evidently set something else, not written down.

I think there might be other ways to change the root password, so I'm open to ideas.

\TIA
gregor

You might be able to simply use 'passwd' to change the password once you're at the single-user prompt.

If that fails, it's because NetInfo is in the way. The instructions here should take care of everything: https://www.nextcomputers.org/forums/index.php?topic=5698.msg33498#msg33498

However, the critical line (that runs the 'nu' command) should be changed to:

/etc/nu -M 0 root "" 0 1 "Operator" / /bin/csh .
This modifies (-M) a user (number 0) to have:

• The name 'root'
• An empty password ("")
• The user ID 0
• The primary group ID 1
• The GECOS field (description) "Operator"
• The home directory /
• The login shell /bin/csh
• Membership in the current domain (the . on the end)

Hope that helps!

Thanks for the suggestion-  I think I ran across it in the NeXT Admin manual somewhere.
I have to say it looks kinda scary- if you don't know what you're doing.

I'll eat my bowl of Wheaties tomorrow morning & give it a whirl- will let you know it it works out!

TIA
gregor

No luck on the root password change.  I ran across an old Quantum 200Mb SCSI drive in storage, and it booted up fine. Howsomever, I can't remember either the me user password, OR the root password.  Dang....

I was able to boot it into the single user mode, and it let me set a root password (typed in a password, then it asked me to re-enter it). Good so far.  But when I reboot, it doesn't recognize the new root password.  Very frustrating. 

I tried again the    sh /etc/rc &  command, and also clear the netinfo files:

/etc/nu -M 0 root "" 0 1 "Operator" / /bin/csh .

Nothing seems to work, but I'm not that familiar with unix commands, nor the netinfo aspect.  Magic to me.

When I sell this Turbo Color slab, I'm going to suggest that they go ahead and invest in a BlueScsi or SCSI2SD card.  Much less trouble

Thanks!

gregor

Did you manage to reset the user me password by following the instructions in this post https://www.nextcomputers.org/forums/index.php?msg=32373 (https://www.nextcomputers.org/forums/index.php?msg=32373) by user @Rhetorica after booting up in single user mode?

Quote from: Rhetorica on July 08, 2024, 02:35:38 PMAfter some trial and error:

1. In single-user mode, bring up the system daemons with:

Code Select Expand

sh /etc/rc &2. Use nu -M to bulk-rewrite the entry for me (UID 20):

Code Select Expand

nu -M 20 me "" 20 20 "My Account" /me /bin/csh .The "" is the unencrypted password, and the . on the end is the localhost NetInfo domain.
3. Reboot.

  I know it's not the root user but it's a start.