This HOWTO will describe the procedures involved in recovering a lost root password using the GRUB and LILO boot loaders.
To recover lost root password using GRUB boot loader:
1. Boot the affected system to the GRUB loader
2. Select your operating system and type E for edit
3. Select kernel and type E for edit
4. Select boot and add runlevel 1 to the end of the line
5. Press Enter and hit B for boot
6. At the sh prompt, use passwd to change the password
7. Reboot the PC
To recover lost root password using LILO boot loader:
1. Boot the machine to the LILO prompt
2. Type linux 1 or linux single to enter single user mode
3. At the prompt, use passwd to change the password
4. Reboot
