I've set up my user account so that no password is required to login and I need to install some updates. However when prompted for the password, it says authentication failed if I leave the box blank. I don't have a password, how am I supposed to authenticate?
I tried the method in Reset lost administrative(root) password but it came out with an error: Authentication token manipulation error password unchanged. What does this mean?
Auto login is not password less, it just bypasses the password and logs you in automatic. you still have a password, its the same one you used for the installation and the installation wont run if the password box is empty. You must have used something to install, that is the same password you need atm.
All you have to do is go to Users and Groups, then set a password. I didn't have a password originally but after trying for ages, I just set a password on the default administrator account and entered that same password when it was asking for authentication and it worked.
When at grub (hold shift while loading) press 'e'. You'll enter a boot parameters edit mode.
Find a section with your kernel, actually you'll need line like:
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-17-generic root=...
Append the line with "init=/bin/bash" and press Ctrl+x
You'll boot to a shell with root privileges. Use 'passwd' to change root password.
You may try this... It worked for me...
sudo passwd root
It first asks for your password. Then changes root password
If you forgot your password you may be able to do this by creating new user a/c and then entering that new password
Hope that helps...
Drop to root shell as in the link you mentioned and before resetting the password, remount the file system using the command:
mount -rw -o remount /
After that you may update your password by the command:
passwd <user_name>
eg. passwd sam
After that enter a valid password ( meeting the minimum requirements for strength) and confirm it when prompted. This should work out.
