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I have the following problem:

I have a laptop with Ubuntu-Server 18.04.4 LTS but haven't used it for nearly a year now, so I forgot a lot of stuff and also my username and password(I guess trial and error will work)for login.

I googled the problem and found I need to go into GRUB recovery menu but my laptop uses my standard boot menu, or at least there are no signs of grub being installed. I installed a new live image of Ubuntu on a USB-Stick and started my laptop but I can't click on "recovery mode" only choose the language at the beginning.

I have found a terminal under help and also reset my password trough it for the user name found but I think it's not the right username because it didn't work

P.S. I have no dual boot

DankyNanky
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fabilus11
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1 Answers1

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I would assume that your computer is using grub, as it is the default bootloader for Ubuntu. But, if it's not, or you can't use recovery mode for some other reason, try this. Boot off of the live flash drive, and select "Try Ubuntu" instead of install. Mount your usual boot volume to /mnt/main, or any other mount point. Use

less /mnt/main/etc/passwd

to show a list of users. Find your username, and exit less.

Then run

sudo chroot /mnt/main

This will effectively put you in a shell on your usual boot volume. From there, you can run

passwd username

and enter a new password. Exit the chrooted shell, and reboot without the flash drive. Login using the username found in /etc/passwd and the password you chose previously.

Pixelated Fish
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