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Possible Duplicate:
Encrypted Home… Forgotten Password, but no Passphrase

I encrypted my Home to protect against hackers of course when I first installed Ubuntu. It loaded up the Terminal and was attempting to show me my encryption password incase it ever needed to be used. So I thought "Ehh what the heck, I can find it out later..."

So I closed Terminal and went on with the (amazing!) Ubuntu life. But now I am having to install Java JDK 7.0.0.4 onto my computer to ya know, play games and such. But it is asking for my password for the encrypted Home folder but it never gave it to me... HELP!!!

Does anyone remember the command for Terminal to give you you're randomly generated Encryption password pop up on the famous purple window?

Community
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Carlos L.
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1 Answers1

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It looks as if you are trying to install java, which (I presume it wants root access) needs an administrator's logon password, not the encryption key. Just give it the password you use to log on to Ubuntu. In fact, it is using sudo(or some GUI spinoff, like kdesudo, or gksudo) which uses the admin logon password to get rights to do anything under the system under the root account.

Reference: http://linux.die.net/man/8/sudo

Edit: Also, if it actually needs the encryption key, feel free to run:

ecryptfs-unwrap-passphrase

upon the terminal to get the long hex string you need.

nanofarad
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  • I have attempted to enter my login password but it does not type it out. The "cursor" just flashes waiting for an input on the keyboard, and when I entered the command you gave me (for the encrypted password) it just said ecryptfs-recover-passphrase: command not found – Carlos L. Jul 03 '12 at 15:13
  • @CarlosL. The logon password will *NOT* be shown., Still type it and press enter. Also, see edits to answer for the correct command(apologies for error at first). – nanofarad Jul 03 '12 at 15:14
  • Ok sorry if I am starting to anger you... I ran the unwrap passphrase command WITH the arguments, but it gave me a Error: Unwrapping passphrase failed [-5] – Carlos L. Jul 03 '12 at 15:21
  • @CarlosL. no, you are not angering me at all, I just have 5 hours to kill, but try it without the arguments, or ensure you have the correct password when the command prompts you. Also, does installing Java work? The logon password isn't shown at all(not even asterisks) by design. – nanofarad Jul 03 '12 at 15:23
  • Ok well the no arguments did not work either... And do you want me to link you to the website that I am using as a guide to install Java from? – Carlos L. Jul 03 '12 at 15:36
  • @CarlosL. sorry for slow reply, but the link would really help. Just try typing your logon password at the prompt, although you can't see it. – nanofarad Jul 03 '12 at 15:57