Reset Ubuntu Password from Live CD - Easy Guide

Resetting Your Ubuntu Password Using a Live CD

Following the positive reception of our previous guide detailing Ubuntu password resets via the grub menu, we are initiating a series covering various password recovery methods for both Linux and Windows systems. This article focuses on utilizing a Live CD to accomplish a password reset. We will also address preventative measures to safeguard against unauthorized password changes, so please read on.

This technique is equally applicable if your Ubuntu Live CD has been installed onto a USB drive.

Password Reset Procedure

Begin by booting your computer from the Ubuntu Live CD. From the boot menu, select the option "Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer."

After the system has fully booted, launch a new Terminal window. This can be found within the Applications & Accessories menu. Then, execute the following command:

sudo fdisk -l

This command identifies the device name assigned to your hard drive. Typically, this will be /dev/sda1, however, it may differ depending on your system configuration.

Next, a directory must be created to serve as a mount point for the hard drive.

sudo mkdir /media/sda1

The subsequent command mounts the hard drive to the newly created /media/sda1 folder.

sudo mount /dev/sda1 /media/sda1

Now, the crucial step: employing the chroot command. This command initiates a shell environment with a different root directory, in this case, the folder where the hard drive is mounted.

sudo chroot /media/sda1

With the chroot environment active, you can utilize the passwd command to modify your user account's password. The changes will be applied directly to the hard drive.

passwd geek

Remember to substitute "geek" with your actual username when executing the passwd command to ensure the correct password is altered.

Following these steps, you should be able to reboot your system and successfully log in using your newly established password.