Update Manager password

[andreMini9]

I bought a Dell Mini 9 with Ubuntu 8.04 around Christmas for my wife. As I was helping her with something I noticed there are 188 updates available, so I tried to install them. I get prompted for an Update Manager Password to install them. I have no idea what the pwd is - all I've done since I got the computer is setup a couple of shortcuts for her on the desktop. Dell was of course worthless. Can anyone tell me what the Update Manager password might be?

Thanks, Andre

[_Purple_]

Use the password of the first user you have created.

[andreMini9]

Unfortunately, I can't remember what it is - honestly I don't remember setting one up. I tried to go to the user properties and changing it but it asks for a password to modify the user. Am I screwed? I really don't want to re-install - especially cuz I'm a ubuntu rookie.

[_Purple_]

Then how do you login? How many users are there?

[andreMini9]

There is only 1 user, and she never has to login. I turn it on and it goes straight to Dell's modified desktop.

[sir_nasty]

reset it ;)

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/resetpassword

esc timing is critical here if grub is set to 0 seconds... might take a few tries

[andreMini9]

Thanks very much - that worked and now my updates are installed! You're correct about hitting the esc key - tricky. Is it possible to set the grub to something other then 0?

[gbrainin]

Thanks very much - that worked and now my updates are installed! You're correct about hitting the esc key - tricky. Is it possible to set the grub to something other then 0?

Absolutely! There should be a file called menu.lst; it is usually in /boot/grub. Somewhere in that file should be a line that reads:

timeout 0

Change the 0 to some other number of seconds (2 or 3 is usually sufficient).

Of course, you'll need to have super-user privileges to edit the file, so something like:

gksudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

should do the trick.

[sir_nasty]

as was stated you can easily change that to something other than 0, I didn't suggest that to start because you would have needed the admin password to do it!:lolflag:

and just as a side note (not sure if it matters) for your mini 9 just a simple
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

should work, enter your password, change timeout to 2 or 3 (just like gbrainin said), save and exit.

then for added fun drop into a terminal again and type 'dmesg' and check out the list of hardware in your mini 9, and get comfy with typing ;)

[gbrainin]

and just as a side note (not sure if it matters) for your mini 9 just a simple
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

I remember reading that when using a window-y program (like gedit), it is preferable to use gksudo over sudo. Honestly, I don't recall why this is the case.

[Hanzomon]

i am having same problem with my password. However, when i press ESC is doesn't do anything?

[gbrainin]

If your timeout is set to 0 (as the mini 9's are by default), you have less than a one-second window to hit the ESC key. The timing is, reportedly, tricky. Keep trying, and eventually you should hit it.

[evilcydnar]

reset it ;)

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/resetpassword

esc timing is critical here if grub is set to 0 seconds... might take a few tries
I have same problem but when I press Esc I get MBR 2FA:
That's it no menu. So the instructions on this link http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/resetpassword can't be followed. Any other suggestions please. I'm a complete newbie to Ubuntu and need to reset password because like other guy after accepting and installing 188 updates, my password was no longer recognized and I hadn't forgotten it as I had it wriiten down and had used it many times before downloading the 188 updates!

[Rabnes]

Hi guys

Am trying to reboot my ubuntu 8.04 on my mini dell laptop. Everytime grub is about to load, the system starts up. [grub loading flashes up for a millisecond]. How do i stop this happening?

much appreciated

[Rabnes]

Rite guys!!

Need help with the reseting of my password like many on here.
got a dell mini9. Everytime i press escape at the boot screen i get the message MBR :2FA.
Then `grub loading` flashes up for a millisecond before ubuntu starts up. What the **** can i do? have tried downloading the startup manager so i can access the options to change the grub loading time but of course i need a password to download this. V frustrating:mad: **

help!!

Thanks!