Password issues

Krazykay · Post by **Krazykay** » Sat Feb 17, 2018 9:23 pm

I have a HP Pavilion G6 series laptop and I do not have Windows software only Linux Mint and for some reason I cannot get past the password on the welcome screen. I let a computer tech use it and returned it to me unserviced(for the same problem) and with a password on it along with the fact that they disappeared soon after. I am wondering how without buying any software can I reset this computer so I do not have to put a password in before gaining access. I tried all types of passwords that I thought it may have been but still no luck . I've tried everything I've tried frequently asked questions I've tried Forum threads. I don't know what else to do. The computer shows no presence of Windows software only Linux Mint so this is my last resort before trashing the computer. I damn near took the whole thing apart just to find a reset button. Please help

Mattyboy · Post by **Mattyboy** » Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:01 pm

A faulty or inaccessible operating system is no reason to 'trash' a computer. I once over heard a customer in my local computer shop say they had a virus on a Windows computer. The 'tec' started to explain what they would 'do' which confused them enough to declare 'I'll just buy a new one'.... to which the 'tec' only saw pound signs and was happy to do so.... it annoyed me so much I intervened and reinstalled Windows on it for them for free....don't try to rip people off, there's a moral there.

Is this your computer? did you know the password before and its changed or is this something you have acquired with the operating system already installed?

Worst case you can just re-install Mint, which will cost nothing if you have a blank DVD or USB, you can set a new password during the installation process. If the computer has previously had Windows 10 installed you can also re-install it for free. If the computer has never had Windows 10 then yes it will cost you.

There are ways, I believe, of re-setting a Mint/Linux password but that's not something I can help with without, eh, having a password. Catch 22.

If you need help or advice on how to re-install Mint or Windows then feel free to ask..

Oh... and don't take it back to that 'tec' sounds like an idiot.

jimallyn · Post by **jimallyn** » Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:39 pm

https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/5

Or, if you don't have any of your own data on that computer, just do a new install.

Superannuated · Post by **Superannuated** » Sat Feb 17, 2018 11:32 pm

jimallyn wrote: ⤴Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:39 pm https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/5

If the password for the user account that you are trying to change/recover is the same as the root password does the above method change both passwords (root & user) or just the user password?

MrEen · Post by **MrEen** » Sun Feb 18, 2018 12:36 am

Just the user.

austin.texas · Post by **austin.texas** » Sun Feb 18, 2018 1:07 am

Superannuated wrote: ⤴Sat Feb 17, 2018 11:32 pm If the password for the user account that you are trying to change/recover is the same as the root password does the above method change both passwords (root & user) or just the user password?

For Mint 17.x - both root and user (assuming that you have never changed the root password).
For Mint 18.x - just the user.

MrEen · Post by **MrEen** » Sun Feb 18, 2018 1:12 am

I stand (semi) corrected. Thanks for that.

absque fenestris · Post by **absque fenestris** » Sun Feb 18, 2018 1:54 am

Krazykay wrote: ⤴Sat Feb 17, 2018 9:23 pm I have a HP Pavilion G6 series laptop and I do not have Windows software only Linux Mint and for some reason I cannot get past the password on the welcome screen. I let a computer tech use it and returned it to me unserviced(for the same problem) and with a password on it along with the fact that they disappeared soon after. I am wondering how without buying any software can I reset this computer so I do not have to put a password in before gaining access. I tried all types of passwords that I thought it may have been but still no luck . I've tried everything I've tried frequently asked questions I've tried Forum threads. I don't know what else to do. The computer shows no presence of Windows software only Linux Mint so this is my last resort before trashing the computer. I damn near took the whole thing apart just to find a reset button. Please help

The keyboard settings - if in doubt look at the American - compare it with your national settings...

Long experience - best regards

absque fenestris · Post by **absque fenestris** » Sun Feb 18, 2018 2:22 am

Supplement to my previous entry:
You are not American and your keyboard does not have the American-style layout - avoid the letters z and y, avoid special characters.
If the installation was successful, you can change the password afterwards ...

Superannuated · Post by **Superannuated** » Sun Feb 18, 2018 3:06 am

austin.texas wrote: ⤴Sun Feb 18, 2018 1:07 am For Mint 17.x - both root and user (assuming that you have never changed the root password).
For Mint 18.x - just the user.

Thanks.

If Krazykay is attempting to run LM 18.x and doesn't have any important documents in Home then it may be better to just reinstall. Otherwise he/she will have to change the root password, too, or he/she will not be able to do anything that requires the root password.

If there are important documents then changing the user password makes sense so that he/she can backup the documents and then do a fresh install so that he/she knows the root password.

Krazykay · Post by **Krazykay** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 8:17 pm

Can someone explain if reinstalling the program or changing whatever root password is the solution,HOW do I do so,especially with no access. The computer comes on ,goes to welcome screen,asks for password. No access.This IS my computer returned to me from a faulty tech.

Joe2Shoe · Post by **Joe2Shoe** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 8:31 pm

Krazykay, I would personally re-install LM via a DVD or USB flash drive. When creating the password during the install, make sure that Caps-Lock is OFF, and make sure you type the password correctly, if unsure, just Backspace and start again, twice.
Good computer techs are hard to find, that's why for the past 25+ years I don't allow anyone or anything to touch my PCs. I have a programming degree and I taught myself how to build rigs from scratch. All the answers are out there...Google.
If you are going to trash that laptop, I'll gladly take it. I have about a dozen used laptops in the storage shed that people have given to me. I wipe them, then install LM onto them, and sell them for a very reasonable fee.
But, in your case, I would just re-install, which is such a simple remedy.
Good luck.

Superannuated · Post by **Superannuated** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 9:39 pm

Presumably everything is OK with your hardware and if you start up your computer with the Linux Mint (LM) installation ISO (as a DVD or USB flash drive) the computer will respond normally and run. From there you can reinstall LM and give it a new, easy to remember password.

I don't know if you need help with the installation or not, but if you do then hopefully you have access to another computer to bring up the Linux Mint Installation Guide to help you through the installation process and/or follow one of these YouTube videos:
Beginner's Guide To Installing Linux Mint 18
Linux Mint Installation Guide for Beginners
It also helps if you can connect your computer to the internet via Ethernet cable.

Briefly, if you insert the DVD or USB stick with the LM ISO and start your computer you want it to load the LM ISO. If instead the computer starts from your hard drive and goes into the non-responsive Welcome Screen, then you need to restart your computer and go into your BIOS and set the boot order so that your DVD drive and/or USB boots before the hard drive. Further information is in the LM Installation Guide but I wanted to make it clear.

Once you get the ISO loaded just follow one of the guides to perform the installation. Good luck.

Termy · Post by **Termy** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 10:04 pm

Load up a LiveCD or LiveUSB of Linux Mint (or any Linux, within reason), then open up a terminal and "chroot" in. See guides if you're unsure what I mean. The general gist is that you mount the partition, chroot in, then set the password via the passwd command. If you've local access, you've the keys to the kingdom.

Superannuated · Post by **Superannuated** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 10:05 pm

The Linux Mint Installation Guide could be more clear in a couple of places for beginners. When you choose an installation type and Linux Mint is the only OS on your computer (as in your case) then only select the button "Erase disk and install Linux Mint". Do not select to Encrypt or Use LVM or Something else (as shown in the figure), they complicate matters.

Installation type.png

When you get to the window "Who are you?" then do not select "Encrypt my home folder" (as shown in the figure) unless you understand the implications. This also complicates things.

Who are you.png

Termy · Post by **Termy** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 10:07 pm

Agreed!

Krazykay · Post by **Krazykay** » Fri Feb 23, 2018 8:59 pm

Superannuated wrote: ⤴Sat Feb 17, 2018 11:32 pm
jimallyn wrote: ⤴Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:39 pm https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/5
If the password for the user account that you are trying to change/recover is the same as the root password does the above method change both passwords (root & user) or just the user password?

I tried this, and when I got to the part where I type ls/home to view the other users there was nothing to see, and only let me type in a username just to say it doesn't exist, I move along anyways,and nothing changed.

Krazykay · Post by **Krazykay** » Fri Feb 23, 2018 9:41 pm

Mattyboy wrote: ⤴Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:01 pm A faulty or inaccessible operating system is no reason to 'trash' a computer. I once over heard a customer in my local computer shop say they had a virus on a Windows computer. The 'tec' started to explain what they would 'do' which confused them enough to declare 'I'll just buy a new one'.... to which the 'tec' only saw pound signs and was happy to do so.... it annoyed me so much I intervened and reinstalled Windows on it for them for free....don't try to rip people off, there's a moral there.

Is this your computer? did you know the password before and its changed or is this something you have acquired with the operating system already installed?

Worst case you can just re-install Mint, which will cost nothing if you have a blank DVD or USB, you can set a new password during the installation process. If the computer has previously had Windows 10 installed you can also re-install it for free. If the computer has never had Windows 10 then yes it will cost you.

There are ways, I believe, of re-setting a Mint/Linux password but that's not something I can help with without, eh, having a password. Catch 22.

If you need help or advice on how to re-install Mint or Windows then feel free to ask..

Oh... and don't take it back to that 'tec' sounds like an idiot.

Given that I have a blank disc, please tell me how to reinstall lm. Editing options on the grub menu didn't help whatsoever.

Superannuated · Post by **Superannuated** » Fri Feb 23, 2018 10:07 pm

Krazykay wrote: ⤴Fri Feb 23, 2018 9:41 pmplease tell me how to reinstall lm.

I told you how to find that information (in my replies 6 and 4 posts earlier than this one). However, they do assume you have access to a working computer (of any OS), a web browser, and an internet connection.

Mattyboy · Post by **Mattyboy** » Fri Feb 23, 2018 10:56 pm

Krazykay wrote: ⤴Fri Feb 23, 2018 9:41 pm

Given that I have a blank disc, please tell me how to reinstall lm. Editing options on the grub menu didn't help whatsoever.

First go here and download the ISO image correct for you system https://linuxmint.com/ ( 64bit MATE version )
Once downloaded make a boot-table DVD https://linuxmint-installation-guide.re ... /burn.html
Once created search online for your model of computer and its boot options, this will be either Bio's or UEFI.... simply pressing f12 when you first turn the machine on will often bring up the boot menu.
When your DVD is booted and you're at the live desktop click the install mint icon then follow the instructions posted earlier in the thread.

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