accounts expired?

[cyphen]

okay okay, i can understand user accounts expiring - but do administrative accounts have an expiration date, too???

I have Mandrake Linux installed in a dual boot, and if i have to wipe it clean, it's no big deal, really. but this is the second time this has happened to me. I can't log in under any account that i've created. And the administrative account that i created - the password doesn't seem to be valid, it doesn't say that the account has expired - but again, this happened to me the first time i installed ML9, and now again where the administrative accounts i created (superuser) appear to not be valid after a while.


Anyone else have any experience with this? Is there anything i can do to reactivate these accounts? Or can i somehow save the install by recreating accounts?

Thanks in advance!

[Epyon9283]

http://www.mandrakeuser.org/docs/admin/arecov4.html

[cyphen]

great info, thanks!

only have 1 problem...

i'm dual-booting and have the mandrake graphical boot interface...

how can i add 'init 1' to the menu?

the 'ee' thing must be for something else, because it didn't work.

thanks!

[cyphen]

okay - figured that part out - i can get it to enter into single user mode, but it still asks me for the root password. ???

[Germ]

You're asked to login to single user mode? You should get a root prompt without doing anything but booting init 1. Then at the prompt, type passwd and hit "Enter". Now you can change root's password.

[cyphen]

nope - it asked me for the root password. I take it that's not supposed to happen, huh? Maybe i had my security setting too high, because that would seem too easy to undermine the system's integrity. Anyway, i ended up reinstalling (which was a fun little adventure in itself, 'cuz LILO waxed the MBR - or at least i can only assume it was LILO.) Anyway, a quick fdisk /mbr later, and i'm back in biznis. (and reinstalling LILO, of course)

Yeah, it wasn't really asking me to log in in single user mode (so glad it has a mode especially for all us single users out there!) just asking me for the root password - which is why i think i just had the security set too high to be able to do that.

Anyway, thanks for the help. And i learned something new. Now i just have to figure out where i set the account expirations at so this doesn't happen again!

[Epyon9283]

Actually I tried single user mode on my Gentoo install and it also asked for the root password. Luckily I still have mine though

[Ptrper]

If I may make a suggestion, go ahead and pick up a book called "Linux Server Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips and Tools" from O'Reilly.

I have been reading and rereading certain chapters and find it just amazing.

[cyphen]

that actually sparks a question and a concern i have, that while not really relevant to this thread, was brought up, so i'll ask opinions...

Since Linux is open-source, wouldn't it follow that it is more vulnerable to malicious programmers of ill intent??? I mean, the vulnerabilities are spelled out right in front of you. Does anyone else agree, or have reason to support an opposing opinoin?