Reset root password without alternate boot?

[Alan Dayley]

On Sat, Aug 23, 2008 at 4:20 PM, Alan Dayley <alandd at consultpros.com> wrote:
> I have an old laptop that I installed Linux on some time ago and then
> never used.  I have a use for it now and it is working.  However, I
> don't remember the root password.  No big deal, just boot to runlevel
> 1, right?  Well, this system still asks for the root password before
> you can get to the runlevel 1 prompt!  Highly secure, I suppose but
> inconvenient.
>
> So, this laptop does NOT have an optical drive NOR will it boot from
> USB. More inconvenience. Unless there is some what to get around the
> password prompt, I'll be stuck removing the hard drive to do a
> re-install, as I did to get Linux on the computer in the first place.
>
> Any ideas how to get past this without riping the hard drive out?

The pressure is off for this question.  After I wrote this email, my
memory synapses connected up and I remembered the root password for
the computer.

I am still curious about the question so if you are so inclined,
please discuss at your leisure.  At least I'll be listening.

Alan