Linux Login etc

[zed994]

Hey

I woujld firstly like to say i feel stupid for my post about newbies etc.

I have loked through the FAQs and there was nothing on this topic.

After successfully dual-booting linux mandrake 9.2 and windows XP professional, but on leaving the comptuer, it did not give me the option of logins?!???!?!?... plz, how can i edit this as i cannot login, i have no idea what happend



Thanks

Zed

 

[mattjurado]

What do you mean? Are you just being prompted for login? Try the user root, along with whatever password you specified for root. If you can't remember what password it was, I would reinstall the OS now.

Matt J.

Please always take the time to backup any and all data before performing any actions suggested for ANY problem, regardless of how minor a change it might seem. Also test the backup to make sure it is intact.

 

[stefanwagner]

Don't you get a login-shell, but a command-shell like bash?

Then edit /etc/inittab :

# deactivate:
#1:12345:respawn:/bin/bash -login >/dev/tty1 2>&1 </dev/tty1
# ...
#6:2345:respawn:/bin/bash -login >/dev/tty4 2>&1 </dev/tty4

# insert instead:
# Console logins using getty.
c1:12345:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty1 linux
# c2, 3, 4, 5 accordingly
c6:12345:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty3 linux

Be sure you HAVE /sbin/getty
Perhaps it's /sbin/agetty on your system.

If you may not login, because of missing password, start linux in single-user mode (which will not ask for a password normally). If you use lilo as boot-loader, and have two sections, xp and linux, don't just mark 'linux' but add 's' for Single-User:
'linux s'

Or don't you get the boot options?
Then you need a separate boot-medium, mount your linux-partition, and set up the boot loader.

Mattjurados solution is thy typical Windows-solution: after an error, reinstall the OS!
No no no - I'm using linux since 8 years and never had to reinstall linux due to errors.

But my question is: what means 'successfully dual-booting'?

 

[mattjurado]

Actually, I suggested he reload the OS because it would be the easiest way for him to reset the root password, him being a newbie. Thanks for being rude.

Matt J.

Please always take the time to backup any and all data before performing any actions suggested for ANY problem, regardless of how minor a change it might seem. Also test the backup to make sure it is intact.

 

[stefanwagner]

Matt J.: I don't agree. If the window of your car can't be opened, you don't buy a new car, because it's the easiest solution!

And if he goes the same way again, he will reach the same error again.

Backing up for every minor change, as suggested in your footer, will cost a lot of money and time.

BTW:
I didn't recognize immeadiately, that this is a automatic footer - therefore it might be easily misinterpreted as a kind of PS belonging to your post.

I would suggest to try a quick solution with small side-effects. You don't know how many work was spent in setting up the system so far.
Editing inittab and starting your OS in single-user mode are things, you should learn as early as possible - again: this isn't Windows where reinstalling often IS the FASTEST and ONLY solution.

But from the question, I'm not sure what the problem really is. Perhaps zed994 will answer this?

PS: What does the acronym 'MIS' after your name mean?