On Mon, Dec 21, 2009 at 06:56:38PM -0500, S.D.A. wrote: > On Sun, Dec 20, 2009 at 11:56:23AM -0800, Steve Langasek uttered: > > On Sun, Dec 20, 2009 at 12:47:12PM -0500, S.D.A. wrote: > > > On Sun, Dec 20, 2009 at 12:59:54AM -0800, Steve Langasek uttered: > > > > What command are you running in order to change root's password? > > > > > After editing grub-pc Stanza to 'rw init=/bin/bash' I'm using 'passwd > > > "user"' > > > then when prompted entering the new pwd twice. Sometimes this works > > > sometimes not ... Very strange > > > > So you are running the command 'passwd root'?
> Yes root and user (both pwds were borked).
> > > > What is it that you're running that results in an "Authentication token
> > > > manipulation error"?
> >
> > > I boot to console; then when attempting to log-in that is the error.
> >
> > And you get this error when logging in as either 'root' or as your user?
> Yes, originally. In between these episodes I have been updating daily;
> The behaviour changed sporadically. The first episode it ever happened
> was several weeks ago; That time I had to change both root and the
> regular user credentials; both were accepted. This problem has reared
> it's head from time to time since, but since I don't reboot after each
> upgrade it's difficult to track down specific times. This last time; I
> was unable to change roots credentials, only the regular user.
> > > > What are the values of the account management fields for the root user
> > > > in
> > > > /etc/shadow ('getent shadow root | cut -f3- -d:')?
> > > Doesn't seem to return any output; Don't forget I'm unable to su to
> > > root, so running as normal user didn't return anything when run from
> > > xterm.
> > Of course it doesn't. I need this output when run /as the root user/, in
> > rescue mode or whatever it takes to get it.
> O OK Sorry for being thick. My only defence is that I was tired.
> Meanwhile since my last reboot; the problem seems to have been fixed
> by an update(s). Booting into safe mode to run your command; I thought
> what the heck, I'll try to change root's pwd (just in case). It
> allowed me to! I had updated last night and this morning.
> So it's fixed. I appreciate two busy Debian developers giving me some of
> their valuable time!
Ok, closing this bug report then.
--
Steve Langasek Give me a lever long enough and a Free OS
Debian Developer to set it on, and I can move the world.
Ubuntu Developer http://www.debian.org/
slanga...@ubuntu.com vor...@debian.org
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