Arch Linux

Ben_the1st

Member

From: Szeged, Hungary

Registered: 2010-06-15

Posts: 30

/etc/shadow replaced by /etc/shadow.pacnew

Hi!

I replaced my /etc/shsdow by /etc/shadow.pacnew accidentally.  Now I'm unable to get root privileges, since I've "changed" every password. I have a backup of the old shadow file, but i can1T reach it, since only root have read/write privileges for it. What can I do to get the control back?

Balazs

---

Balazs

wonder

Developer

From: Bucharest, Romania

Registered: 2006-07-05

Posts: 5,941

Website

Re: /etc/shadow replaced by /etc/shadow.pacnew

boot the livecd, mount the root and replace the file

---

Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.

rent0n

Member

From: Italy

Registered: 2009-10-29

Posts: 457

Website

Re: /etc/shadow replaced by /etc/shadow.pacnew

I'm a bit puzzled about what I am supposed to do with /etc/shadow.pacnew.
I can's see any 'news' compared to my /etc/shadow (except of course users and password set by me).

---

rent0n@deviantART | rent0n@bitbucket | rent0n@identi.ca | LRU #337812
aspire: Acer Aspire 5920 Arch Linux x86_64 | beetle: Gericom Beetle G733 Arch Linux i686

djgera

Developer

From: Buenos Aires - Argentina

Registered: 2008-12-24

Posts: 723

Website

Re: /etc/shadow replaced by /etc/shadow.pacnew

the root password is <<empty>>.

If does not work then:
start system with init=/bin/bash in kernel command line "grub prompt". mount / -o rw,remount; copy your shadow; mount / -o ro,remount; reboot (or exec /sbin/init)

Last edited by djgera (2010-09-21 17:09:44)

Ben_the1st

Member

From: Szeged, Hungary

Registered: 2010-06-15

Posts: 30

Re: /etc/shadow replaced by /etc/shadow.pacnew

boot the livecd, mount the root and replace the file

Thanks.

I'm a bit puzzled about what I am supposed to do with /etc/shadow.pacnew.
I can's see any 'news' compared to my /etc/shadow (except of course users and password set by me).

I'm also confused a little about it.

---

Balazs

loafer

Member

From: the pub

Registered: 2009-04-14

Posts: 1,772

Re: /etc/shadow replaced by /etc/shadow.pacnew

boot the livecd, mount the root and replace the file

Thanks.

I'm a bit puzzled about what I am supposed to do with /etc/shadow.pacnew.
I can's see any 'news' compared to my /etc/shadow (except of course users and password set by me).

I'm also confused a little about it.

That's it.  The pacnew is just a basic, default shadow file without the stuff specific to your system.

---

All men have stood for freedom...
For freedom is the man that will turn the world upside down.
Gerrard Winstanley.

fsckd

Forum Fellow

Registered: 2009-06-15

Posts: 4,173

Re: /etc/shadow replaced by /etc/shadow.pacnew

I compared it to my existing shadow file, saw there was nothing new and deleted it. End of story.

I replaced my /etc/shsdow by /etc/shadow.pacnew accidentally.  Now I'm unable to get root privileges, since I've "changed" every password. I have a backup of the old shadow file, but i can1T reach it, since only root have read/write privileges for it. What can I do to get the control back?

You may have lost entries for some user accounts.

---

aur S & M :: forum rules :: Community Ethos
Resources for Women, POC, LGBT*, and allies

NeedCoffee2

Member

From: California

Registered: 2009-05-04

Posts: 9

Re: /etc/shadow replaced by /etc/shadow.pacnew

I had some trouble using 'su' to switch to root after the I replaced the root line in /etc/shadow to the one in the pacnew file.  So something got messed up there.

I solved it by restoring /etc/shadow to the same as before I made the switch.

So I'm liking fsckd's solution above to just delete /etc/shadow.pacnew and move on.