Ubuntu
software-properties package

forgot the password I assigned to administrator

Asked by roe shapiro

I am the administrator of my computer. I am a new user of Linux Ubuntu . I acquired my computer preloaded with Linux Ubuntu. During my recovery from surgery, I acclimated myself to this software within the past 2 years, At some time probably mid to late 2013, I had assigned a password for "Administrator"; WHICH I FORGOT AND HAVE TRIED TO RECALL TO NO AVAIL. Without knowing the password, I have no control over updating programs or installing programs. In other words, I have limited use to my laptop and can only operate it as a User, not an administrator. I am not a computer programmer and dont have the knowledge to run programs manually. Can anyone please advise me how to reset the administator password; or at least revert this setting to that which was originally programmed prior to April of 2013?

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Ubuntu software-properties Edit question
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arochester (arochester) said : 		#1

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/resetpassword

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roe shapiro (glowyaba-o) said : 		#2

i will try & let u know if it works. thanks

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Marc Volker Dickmann (marc-q) said : 		#3

Reboot the PC / Laptop and mash the ESC key while its booting. You should be in the boot menu where you could choose various boot modes with your up and down keys.
Select the upper one with the word "recovery" in it and push Enter.
After a few Seconds/Minutes your should be see another Dialog where you Select one called "dpkg" with your keyboard (up / down) and push enter.
If it ask to mount some partions select yes. Wait until there is an prompt like (y|n) asking to repair your packages.
Now press the key "n" and after that the key Enter.
Now, back at the dialog, select the option root which will open a prompt for the user root.
Now type "$ passwd <Accountname>" (<Accountname> should in your case be "Administrator") it will ask for a new password.
I reccomend using "TestTest" because sometimes the keymap wasnt loading.
Finaly reboot using the command "$ sudo shutdown -r now". This time you booting into your OS and perform your login with the "Administrator" account with the new password.
Finaly change the password to a secure one via terminal or the gui.

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