--- Ubuntu 14.04 is EOL and should be upgraded to a supported version that gets security updates. ---
Ubuntu doesn't usually have a root password - you are expected to do your admin work with sudo and the user's password. You can reboot and modify the grub config to boot into a root chell and let you change the password. 1. When the GRUB menu shows on boot, press 'e'. 2. On the line that starts "linux" add "init=/bin/bash" to the end. 3. Once you get a shell, type "mount -o remount,rw /" 4. Use the passwd command to set the password. 5. Reboot. - Y On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 3:24 PM <linux-au...@terrier.ampexguy.com> wrote: > I assure you that what follows is legit. > > One of my oldest friends died in March (of a massive stroke, not > corona virus). I inherited his three laptops, one of which is an IBM > Thinkpad running Ubuntu 14.04LTS. I can produce a copy of his will, > and, given a day or two to catch up with his executor, a copy of the > death certificate, if needed. > > It automagically boots "Authorized User" with no password needed. This > is not the same as root: I opened a terminal window and typed > "adduser," which you have to be root to do, and got my wrists soundly > slapped for my efforts. > > So is there a way to determine or at least re-set the root password on > this machine? I'd like to create another user (i.e., me), and set the > password for "Authorized User" to something I know. > > If it helps, I'm positive he bought the machine from PC Retro in > Beltsville a few years ago. Do they use the same root password on all > their Linux boxes? > > Any suggestions will be most welcome. > > Thanks. > > Howard Sanner > > You received this email because you are subscribed to the UM Linux User's > Group (UM-LINUX) mailing list. If you would like to unsubscribe from this > list, simply send an email to lists...@listserv.umd.edu with the message > signoff UM-LINUX in the body. > You received this email because you are subscribed to the UM Linux User's Group (UM-LINUX) mailing list. If you would like to unsubscribe from this list, simply send an email to lists...@listserv.umd.edu with the message signoff UM-LINUX in the body.
