[ubuntu-uk] Password recovery

[Matthew Wild]

On Sun, Jul 6, 2008 at 8:19 PM, Keith <keith at grumpyface.me.uk> wrote:
> On Friday a problem arose with the Kubuntu distribution which I couldn't
> resolve myself, so I decided to install v. 8.04.01, especially as it now
> included KDE 4.  All seemed to be OK until I tried to boot up Ubuntu
> which stalled and needed a CTRL-D to get to the desktop.  Not to worry,
> I thought, I'll reinstall with 8.04.1 which proceeded normally.
> However, when the other user tried to log in, Ubuntu would not accept
> the password.  I googled extensively but the only remedy I could find
> was to recover my own password, which was not applicable here and didn't
> help recover, or change, the password in question.  I even tried to
> "re-add" the second user but Ubuntu told me that the user already
> existed, etc.
>
> So I'm stumped and if anyone can help me resolve the problem, I shall be
> very pleased.
>

If you can log in as yourself, and you have admin (sudo) rights, run
in Terminal:

sudo passwd username

It should ask for a new password for that user.

If you aren't a Terminal guy, the same can be done via
System->Administration->Users and Groups. Select the user that can't
log in and click "Properties". You can set a new password there.