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#1 2012-12-28 19:59:31

cmorgenstern
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Registered: 2012-06-21
Posts: 40
Website

[SOLVED] Accidentally deleted passwd file, no root access

So I did something unthinkably stupid while editing .pacnew and regular files using vimdiff: I accidentally deleted the passwd and the passwd.pacnew file from the /etc directory.

The good news is that I have a backup copy of the file saved on my backup drive from about a week ago when I last backed up, and there are also two passwd backup files still in the /etc directory (passwd- and passwd.OLD).  The bad news is that I no longer have root access nor can I access my backup drive since all the authentication details were in the passwd file.  Is there an easy way to create a new passwd file without root privileges that can be placed into the /etc directory?

Any help would be most appreciated. Thank you!

Last edited by cmorgenstern (2012-12-29 04:57:17)


"Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence."
~ Napoleon I

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#2 2012-12-28 20:07:18

WorMzy
Forum Moderator
From: Scotland
Registered: 2010-06-16
Posts: 11,750
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Re: [SOLVED] Accidentally deleted passwd file, no root access

LiveCD?


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#3 2012-12-28 20:07:30

jasonwryan
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From: .nz
Registered: 2009-05-09
Posts: 30,424
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Re: [SOLVED] Accidentally deleted passwd file, no root access

Chroot.


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#4 2012-12-28 20:28:06

Awebb
Member
Registered: 2010-05-06
Posts: 6,268

Re: [SOLVED] Accidentally deleted passwd file, no root access

WorMzy wrote:

LiveCD?

jasonwryan wrote:

Chroot.

Wiki article :-)

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#5 2012-12-28 20:32:26

litemotiv
Forum Fellow
Registered: 2008-08-01
Posts: 5,026

Re: [SOLVED] Accidentally deleted passwd file, no root access

WorMzy wrote:

LiveCD?

jasonwryan wrote:

Chroot.

Awebb wrote:

Wiki article

Mark solved. smile


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#6 2012-12-29 03:16:45

cmorgenstern
Member
Registered: 2012-06-21
Posts: 40
Website

Re: [SOLVED] Accidentally deleted passwd file, no root access

Ok, I just restored the file after chrooting into the system using a LiveCD. Thanks! I hoped it would be that straightforward.

Is there anything else I need to do besides restoring the file, or is it safe enough to unmount the temporary file system, exit the live environment, and try booting?


"Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence."
~ Napoleon I

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#7 2012-12-29 03:17:54

WonderWoofy
Member
From: Los Gatos, CA
Registered: 2012-05-19
Posts: 8,414

Re: [SOLVED] Accidentally deleted passwd file, no root access

Done

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#8 2012-12-29 04:56:13

cmorgenstern
Member
Registered: 2012-06-21
Posts: 40
Website

Re: [SOLVED] Accidentally deleted passwd file, no root access

All fixed, thanks!


"Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence."
~ Napoleon I

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#9 2012-12-29 08:41:27

Awebb
Member
Registered: 2010-05-06
Posts: 6,268

Re: [SOLVED] Accidentally deleted passwd file, no root access

Efficient Thread!

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