Ubuntu users

[exboyfil]

I recently acquired a used computer that is running the Ubuntu operating system. There seems to be a newuser account that requires a password (I can web browse etc until the machine times out and goes to the newuser). I don't know this newuser password. I would either like to figure out the newuser password or create an account with a new password.

I can open up the console to do direct commands, but I am in the newuser prompt. It asks for a password everytime I try to do something.

Any suggestions?

[lapfog_1]

1. boot to single user and then use passwd to modify password for any account

To boot into single user mode you edit the boot instructions for the GRUB menu entry you wish to boot and add the kernel parameter/option single. Brief instructions for how to do this are below.

Hold down the left Shift key while rebooting to bring up GRUB menu
Select (highlight) the GRUB boot menu entry you wish to use.
Press e to edit the GRUB boot commands for the selected boot menu entry.
Look near the bottom of the list of commands for lines similar to

linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic root=UUID=bc6f8146-1523-46a6-8b
6a-64b819ccf2b7 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-24-generic
Change the middle line in (4) by adding the kernel boot parameter single to the end of the line (i.e. after ro quiet splash).

For this example you would change:

6a-64b819ccf2b7 ro quiet splash
to

6a-64b819ccf2b7 ro quiet splash single
Press either Ctrl+X or F10 to boot using these kernel options.

Note: These changes are not persistent. Any change to the kernel boot options made this way will only affect the next boot and only if you start that boot by pressing either Ctrl+X or F10 while still in GRUB edit mode.

[exboyfil]

3. Thank you

[usonian]

4. Another thing to try (YMMV)

I personally would want to just reinstall, with a new version of Ubuntu. That way, you know exactly what is going on, and can set up your own account.

My favorite trick is to download or grab a copy of Knoppix http://knoppix.net/ (it sometimes shows up in Linux magazines in bookstores).

Knoppix is a nice Linux distro that at last download uses the old init system, not systemd (I am an old-timer)

You can just boot it live off a dvd drive or USB if you have a boot image on USB stick. Install later if it works.

FWIW, I donated some old computers to the thrift store with Linux Mint distro on them, AND I LABELED THE ACCOUNTS AND PASSWORDS.