MX Linux Forum

I'm still hanging around (excellent health, actually) - but I always feel so stupid when I have to ask how to retrieve (or reset) my Login password.
I have a "dual-booter" that I only use for bill-paying, and I've lost the Lux password.

I need basically a tutorial that even a beginner can follow.

Thanks in advance !!

Tovian wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 1:56 pm I'm still hanging around (excellent health, actually) - but I always feel so stupid when I have to ask how to retrieve (or reset) my Login password.
I have a "dual-booter" that I only use for bill-paying, and I've lost the Lux password.

I need basically a tutorial that even a beginner can follow.

Thanks in advance !!

Press Alt+Ctrl+F1 to switch from the login screen to the system console,
Enter username root
and password for root, which you have given during install.
at root prompt:
enter
passwd "your-username-here"
you will need enter a new password twice, you may (or not) see asterisks when enter the password
when done
type exit
and back to the login screen with or pres 6 times
to get back onto vt7

Thank you for the info. Since I also can't remember the password for root I/ll just have to re-install MX. That's not a huge problem - if...

If I reuse my existing home folder will I still need the old password to access the folder after the reload ?

Tovian wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 4:51 pm Thank you for the info. Since I also can't remember the password for root I/ll just have to re-install MX. That's not a huge problem - if...

If I reuse my existing home folder will I still need the old password to access the folder after the reload ?

You did mention in the first post, that you only lost your own password.
But anyway, no need to reinstall.
For this type of situation the safest method (besides other possibly more hacky ones)
just this:
* Plug-in your MX Live USB and boot from the Live USB (or LiveISO e.g with Ventoy)
* When booted Live:
Within the menu search for "Chroot Rescue-Scan"
* When run "Chroot Rescue Scan" it will search for the installed system.
edit and enter the LiveUser "demo" password (which happesn to be the same as it's username)
* When found select the one you have to visit the system.
Now you are on a "chroot>" prompt within your installed system.
* type this the change/reset root's passwd *type this to change your users password: enter twice the new passwords, and you are done.
Type exit and hit [Enter}, to leave the visted syystem.
and quit Chroot-Recure which "q" for Quit"
Now shutdown the live system pull out the LiveUsb and start again.
Thats it.
++EDIT+++
The Live user's demo password is demo, in case you might have forgotten.

Apologies - and I will - beforehand if I should start a new topic, but while I love the solution - and I thought something with a Live-USB might solve the the OP's problem (I was thinking of a hack, like copying a distribution snapshot or something), isn't this one heck of a security threat?

I incorrectly always assumed that Chroot-Rescue required the password of the system being accessed.

Thanks.

MXRobo wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 5:12 pm I incorrectly always assumed that Chroot-Rescue required the password of the system being accessed.

"Chroot Rescure Scan" will ask for the user's password the system is running, and in case you have forgotten
the password of the Live User "demo" you can find by typing "welcome" within the a search field of the menu,
where the demo password will be shown on the "Welcome" screen.

Many, many THANKS. I have to shut down this box to remove my Live stick (it's the running OS). I will attempt to follow the instructions above then report back.

MXRobo wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 5:12 pm isn't this one heck of a security threat?

Anyone with physical access to the system can wipe the disk drive. Isn't that a bigger security threat?

Yes, that's why it's best NOT TO ALLOW ANYONE you don't trust with your goodies to have access to them.


@fehlix - I have successfully changed both passwords and am back in business. THANK YOU very much for your excellent (and swift) assistance !!

Tovian wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 6:17 pm I have successfully changed both passwords and am back in business.

Great! In case you wonder how to mark a thread as [Solved]. The preferred method would be this:
Click on the button with the checkmark to the right of the post that may have pointed the way to the solution of the main topic of the thread.

@fehlix Thanks
@DukeComposed Well, strictly security-wise, maybe not as I might rather someone wipe my drive, than have have access to it,
but yes Duke - a very good and obvious point that I wasn't considering. I suppose that's where encryption comes in handy, and I do have a separate encrypted laptop and don't keep anything too sensitive on my daily driver.
Thanks all, don't want to hijack - over and out and glad Tovian got it solved.

MXRobo wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 9:52 pm I suppose that's where encryption comes in handy,

...Until you lose/forget that password, and you're back where you started.

IIRC, from wayback (before disk-on-key) nullifying password by booting a cd and editing /etc/passwd