The Dell Mini Project

Forgot password

Asked by ebonis

I have a Dell Mini 910 and the grub line comes on too fast to even press esc and reboot the computer. I have tried all the suggests for changing the password through rebooting and my system wont allow you to do all that. It has a set-up and boot option but through that you can't change your system password. I can't even set up the internet because you need a password to change things

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ebonis
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Revision history for this message
Twig (pfirth) said : 		#1

Is it possible to boot a separate version of ubuntu from a USB drive and change /boot/grub/menu.lst so that you have more time to hit the escape key?

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ebonis (eboni-stokes) said : 		#2

Yes, I tried to boot up from a usb drive with the 8.10 version and it wouldnt load. I don't remember exactly what it said when booting but something like unable to boot and than i just turn the computer off and change the booting back to hard drive. I can get into setup before ut boots but that is not allowing me to change the password I want

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Micah Gersten (micahg) said : 		#3

Have you tried a LiveCD?

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Twig (pfirth) said : 		#4

I don't think that machine has a built-in cd drive which is why I suggested the USB drive. I think your best shot is to try and get something to boot from USB. Have you taken a look at:

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

It will install things like Super Grub disk which should allow you to fix the problem.

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George Sgouros (gsgouros) said : 		#5

I have the same problem any help on this would be appreciated. Dell does not provide support for Ubuntu and suggests going to this community for help.

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electhor (electhor) said : 		#6

Go to http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/resetpassword there is a tep by step of how to rest your password.

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ebonis (eboni-stokes) said : 		#7

Thanks so much for everyone responding to my question, however my computer's log in is too fast to press esc. I have tried and had others try for me. I even tried to reboot under the usb drive with verison 8.10 and it wouldn't load. I am going to ask on or two IT guys at work and if all falls I have to return it. Maybe dell can re-install and I will pay attention to the password next time. I will keep you posted

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ebonis (eboni-stokes) said : 		#8

o.k it's 3:00am I finally get in but when it's time to type a new password it wont let me type anything. On every other line I can type but when its time for the password wont move. I typed a new password even though it did show up and it says sorry, passwords do not match, passwd: Authentication information cannot be recovered

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ebonis (eboni-stokes) said : 		#9

I did it slower this time (5 min later) and it worked. For starter with this model you have to hit esc and enter, not just esc. Please make not of this. Thanks for all your help.

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ebonis (eboni-stokes) said : 		#10

I did it slower this time (5 min later) and it worked. For starter with this model you have to hit esc and enter, not just esc. Please make not of this. Thanks for all your help.

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Fabián Rodríguez (magicfab) said : 		#11

Please see the detailed steps for this in: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DellMini9

That wiki page also has other tips and tricks, links and known issues + solutions for the Mini 9.