How to reset a root password

Entering Rescue Mode

Using GRUB legacy

GRUB legacy was the default boot loader up until Fedora 15.

While your system is starting up, hold down the Ctrl key or Esc to see the boot loader menu. After you see the menu:

• Use the arrows to select the boot entry you want to modify.
• Press e to edit the entry.
• Use the arrows to go to kernel line.
• Press a or e to append this entry.
• At the end of the line add the word single or the number 1.
• Press Enter to accept the changes.
• Press b to boot this kernel.

A series of text messages scrolls by and after a short time, a root prompt appears awaiting your commands (#).

Using GRUB2

GRUB2 has the default boot loader since Fedora 16.

While booting the system the GRUB2 menu will be displayed, to boot into the rescue mode follow these steps:

• Use the arrow keys to select the boot entry you want to edit
• Press e to start editing that entry
• Use the arrow keys to go to the line that start with linux
• Go the the end of that line (by pressing End) add a space then the word single or the number 1
• Press Ctrl-x or F10 to boot that entry

Encrypted partitions
Which ever GRUB version your system has, if you have an encrypted partition, you are prompted for the pass phrase before mounting the filesystems. If have more than one encrypted partition and they all share a global pass phrase, select the option for global pass phrase. Otherwise, enter the pass phrase separately for each partition.