Display Manager

pinkfreud13 · n00b Joined: 03 Jun 2019 Posts: 5

My dad left me his computer when he died. I can not login because I do not have the password for the login screen. Is there a way to get into it or is the computer just trash?
thank you

Naib · Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 11:51 pm Post subject:

Hi,
There are many ways to achieve what you are after but it depends on your specific setup.

How up to date is the Gentoo install? Is the harddrive encrypted?
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pinkfreud13 · n00b Joined: 03 Jun 2019 Posts: 5

when I go to the boot menu it says GENTOO GNU/LINUX, WITH LINUS X86_64-4.9.95 GENTOO

I am not sure if the hard drive is encrypted or not. I wouldn't be supprised if it was.

Jaglover · Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 12:28 am Post subject:

You have to make a decision. Do you want to keep Gentoo? It is a rolling distro and you have to maintain it if you want to use it for years to come. In case the answer is "no" just install some other operating system.
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My Gentoo installation notes.
Please learn how to denote units correctly!

Naib · Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 12:30 am Post subject:

Well... bearing in mind there is no way to validate anything you are saying and you could be someone wanting to know how to "break in" to someone machine you have access to ...
The simplest way would be
1) boot
2) intercept GRUB
3) edit grub & add init=/bin/bash
3a) if there is a grub password then geegee
4) once the kernel has booted, remount /<root> as RW
5) execute passwd to reset root password
6) reboot

This isn't some secret, this is a typical way to reset a password *IF* you have physical access and can change the boot options. The alternative is a boot medium (sysrecueCD etc) and mount /<root> and edit the shadow file
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Hu · Moderator Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 21593

Also, even if the drive were encrypted (which would block Naib's technique), the computer itself is not trash. At worst, you would need to accept the loss of all data on the system, then reinstall with an OS of your choice. The hardware is fine and can be reused.

pinkfreud13 · n00b Joined: 03 Jun 2019 Posts: 5

thanks for your help but doesn't seem like I can get in. I was hoping to get pictures. says " no job control in this shell ". should have figured this from a firewall engineer. I don't know enough about this stuff.

pinkfreud13 · n00b Joined: 03 Jun 2019 Posts: 5

yeah, really nice hardware. I am just an easy windows person.

Hu · Moderator Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 21593

"No job control" is normal in an early boot environment, if it doesn't take special steps to get it up. Ignore that and continue trying Naib's advice.

Muso · Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:37 am Post subject:

pinkfreud13 · n00b Joined: 03 Jun 2019 Posts: 5

Update: got windows 10 today and tried to install but could not format the the hard drive. will not install.

Jaglover · Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 1:42 am Post subject:

Existing partition table may confuse poor Windows, I'd nuke it and try again. Or get Linux Mint. It is easier to install and use than Windows.

Here: https://linuxmint.com/download.php
_________________
My Gentoo installation notes.
Please learn how to denote units correctly!