(idea) by Fluffy The Cat Thu Jun 07 2001 at 17:23:57
To reset your root password in Linux without knowing it already, do this:

  1. Reboot
  2. At the LILO prompt (on x86 - the silo prompt is more applicable on Suns, or the yaboot prompt on ppc), type 
    linux init=/bin/sh
  3. Wait for a shell prompt to appear. Type 
    mount -o rw,remount /
  4. Type 
    passwd root
  5. Enter a new password
  6. Type 
    umount /
  7. Type 
    sync
    (probably unnecessary, but fun)
  8. Type 
    sync
    (certainly unnecessary, but certain traditions have to be followed)
  9. Type 
    sync
    (completely and utterly unnecessary, except that not doing so guarantees that everything will go horribly wrong)
  10. Reboot
  11. Be happy
  12. Don't be stupid enough to do that again, you clot

Much the same can be done with most other unices. init=/bin/sh is preferable under Linux because some distributions (such as Debian) require you to know the root password in order to get the shell prompt in single user mode.

I like it!