User password rejected Mint. Solved

[Andow]

After reinstating lost grub, later 9 months and win 10 system update, I am unable to access my only Mint user account, rejecting password, It accepted OS password, but not user account which I had recorded in a note book at time it was installed 21/2 years ago I'm 90% sure its correct, tried many combinations but all failed. From memory only the OS was encrypted.
Could it be the password encryption system has been corrupted, if that were the case could a restore correct the issue ?.
If I need to start over do I need to uninstall Linux Mint before reinstalling it again, and can I use the same USB as in the original install?.
Thank you Andow

Thought I give it one last try, what I found was there was a broken system package which I repaired, updated the grub which took me to login screen entered password went into user account all look good, restarted it been fine since, except for update manager, but that for another post.
Thank you to all for your input. Andow
PS. The links provided to solution, I found were out of date for my system LMC.

[Pierre]

you can still manually Reset that User password:
https://www.maketecheasier.com/reset-ubuntu-password/
or
https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/linux/r ... s-or-less/

ie: you simply select the latest installed Boot Kernel from your Grub Boot menu:
- and then use the “e” key to choose to edit that boot option.
as shown, above ..

[Andow]

you can still manually Reset that User password:
https://www.maketecheasier.com/reset-ubuntu-password/
or
https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/linux/r ... s-or-less/

ie: you simply select the latest installed Boot Kernel from your Grub Boot menu:
- and then use the “e” key to choose to edit that boot option.
as shown, above ..

Hi pierre. 1 I read through your links and used it but came to a stop at where it said drop to boot shell prompt and entered the command line interface, “this is where it differed from the tutorial” it asks for root password for maintenance or press ctrl-D (is that the partition for the OS or user acc password, in any case it doesn't give me a cursor to make an entry, so no options but to power down to back-out.
Regards Andow

[Pierre]

try again - with that second link & look for the section Alternate Root Shell Method
- First you’ll want to make sure to choose the regular boot kernel that you use (typically just the 1st one),
and then use the “e” key to choose to edit that boot option. ..

then read this bit:
You’ll want to remove the “ro quiet splash” part with the backspace key, and then add this onto the end:

[Andow]

try again - with that second link & look for the section Alternate Root Shell Method
- First you’ll want to make sure to choose the regular boot kernel that you use (typically just the 1st one),
and then use the “e” key to choose to edit that boot option. ..

then read this bit:
You’ll want to remove the “ro quiet splash” part with the backspace key, and then add this onto the end:

Hi pierre. I went through the 2nd procedure, unfortunately no result, when I got to “ro quite splash” replaced it with “rw intin=/bin/bash” pressed enter, cursor drooped to next line, pressed “b key” to choose with that options, it didn't boot to the kernel boot terminal to change password.
The end of line in my version reads, “ro quite splash $vt_handoff”, I tried it with and without the $vt_handoff part. It didn't go to command prompt.
When shutting down Linux, text appeared quickly saying something about kernel maybe missing, but all seems ok to me.?
Could it be that the OS is encrypted, that's is what Ive been reading in other posts.
Thank you again Andow

[Pierre]

that encryption may have an bearing on your issue
- what's actually encrypted ?
- - just the /home partition ?
- - the whole drive is encrypted ?

the thing is - that encryption is not meant to be easily by-passed:
- that would simply defeat the whole point, of that encryption, wouldn't it ?.
so - if you can't get "in" - - then the whole thing is shot & you'll be facing an Full Re-Installation.

[Andow]

that encryption may have an bearing on your issue
- what's actually encrypted ?
- - just the /home partition ?
- - the whole drive is encrypted ?

the thing is - that encryption is not meant to be easily by-passed:
- that would simply defeat the whole point, of that encryption, wouldn't it ?.
so - if you can't get "in" - - then the whole thing is shot & you'll be facing an Full Re-Installation.

Hi pierre. Encryption was an option I took at installation the whole partition is encrypted I don't think I used the wrong password, any passwords I’d use are very limited I tried all in many combination. I'm highly suspicious the encryption failed.
Thank you for your help. Andow
I'll mark this post abandon.

[smurphos]

Don't abandon just yet - when you try to login in to the user account with the passowrd from your notes is it telling you the password is incorrect, or is it it just throwing you back to the login-screen with no message?
- If the latter this is still fixable.

Re the failure to drop to a root shell from grub it appears (unfortunately) you've got a root password set which i guess means this install started as an 18.1 or earlier install. The root password should be the same as the user password was when you first installed So it is worth trying the process outlined in https://www.maketecheasier.com/reset-ubuntu-password/ again and using the password from your notebook when it asks for root's password.

[Andow]

Don't abandon just yet - when you try to login in to the user account with the passowrd from your notes is it telling you the password is incorrect, or is it it just throwing you back to the login-screen with no message?
- If the latter this is still fixable.

Re the failure to drop to a root shell from grub it appears (unfortunately) you've got a root password set which i guess means this install started as an 18.1 or earlier install. The root password should be the same as the user password was when you first installed So it is worth trying the process outlined in https://www.maketecheasier.com/reset-ubuntu-password/ again and using the password from your notebook when it asks for root's password.

Hi Smurphos. See my original post as to how I resolved the problem.
Thanks again Andow