Steps to reset shadow password

lortel · Post by **lortel** » 2010/08/26 20:55:59

I am getting token errors logging into centos so, I have installed pwconv and executed it. I read that it will wipe out the passwords in passwd and shadow. If anyone cares to correct me on this would be great.

I did a sync and reboot. Went to login as root with no password would not allow me in. Is there a default root and admin passwords to log in after using pwconv?

Thanks

pschaff · Post by **pschaff** » 2010/08/29 03:39:03

Not sure how you installed pwconv, but it is part of shadow-utils, and the man page does not seem to indicate the behavior you expected. I'd try booting in runlevel 1, AKA single user mode. Boot to runlevel 1 by interrupting GRUB by typing a character such as "space" then appending to the kernel line by typing "a", backspacing through "rhgb quiet" and appending " 1". This should give you a root shell and not a login prompt. You should then be able to set the root password with "passwd".