Lost root password?

[chasem1991]

I just did a clean install of Ubuntu Server 10.10.

I decided to install a shell on it for kicks... Bad idea. Now for some reason if I try to access the package manager, it says that authentication failed. I have the original password written in front of me.

What happened?

PS what I did to install the shell was
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop

[jerz4lunch]

I used the command on my Ubuntu 10.10 desktop. I'm sure it would work on the server edition too:


sudo passwd root

This changes the previous password to the password that you choose in the terminal after executing the command.

[tad1073]

If that doesn't work, you can edit the kernel line from grub. Ad a 1(one) at the end of the kernel and this will drop you to tty1 w/root access, you can change the password from there.

[tad1073]

I used the command on my Ubuntu 10.10 desktop. I'm sure it would work on the server edition too:


sudo passwd rootThis changes the previous password to the password that you choose in the terminal.
I think you still have to know the original password.