Q. How do I boot a Linux system into single user mode?
A. Single user mode is useful to fix some system problem. Following are steps you need to use to boot Grub boot loader into single user mode.
Procedure: Boot Linux Grub Boot Loader into single user mode
(1) At grub boot screen (after restart)
(2) Select the kernel
(3) Press the e key to edit the entry
(4) Select second line (the line starting with the word kernel)
(5) Press the e key to edit kernel entry so that you can append single user mode
(6) Append the letter S (or word Single) to the end of the (kernel) line
(7) Press ENTER key
(8) Now press the b key to boot the Linux kernel into single user mode
(9) When prompted give root password and you be allowed to login into single user mode.
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
am using red hat 9.
user should not be allowed to change root password in single user mode,as it’s in SUSE.
i have already tried grub password.
i want some other method.
pls help me out.
i have tried the possible causes regarding the problem that i have encountered…..the username and passowrd has expired has been prompt when i logged in into my redhat ubuntu. can you please help me out.
Hi folks,
Thank you so so much for all these informations, I really needed them badly.
Tahnks again
ENJOY
Hi,
I have a red hat entreprise 5. A technician change the motherboard of computer. When I restart, the computer does not find the etho eth1 and I decide to pass by single user mode. But when i make step 5, i don’t have the good line and I can’t modify the line. How must i make ? does this problem come from other hardware probleme?
Hi friends
Thank you for you help.
This is my problem:
I can follow this instructions up to step 5
After that I am stuck. for example:
The inf guide on this screen is different from my screen
my GNU grub version is 0.97 (640k lower/1037859k upper memory
When it comes to edit the kernel and add the letter ‘S’, I dont have that option, so I dont know what else to do. Plese tell me what is the next step. I have not use that computer in months , because of this problem. Thank you
With GRUB, using the keywork “Single” does not work, it has to be lowercase : “single”.
Using only “S” also works.
Using “1″ also works
HI,
Thank You very very much. I really needed badly. Thanks.
Hi ,
I have a computer in the company and we are four use this computer with four accounts.
I have the root password .. By using Single User Mode the others are able to change the root password …!!
It’s a big problem … I need away to prevent the Single User Mode …
How to make bootable usb drive
Hi, i REALLY need help! I have a dell mini linux/ubuntu 8.04 version laptop with only one account which i forgot the password to. I was working on my setup options trying to get a new password and changed the system and HDD passwords. When i said ok my computer wouldnt boot and it prompted me for the passwords i enter in for the HDD/system ones. Now im stuck in grub mode and just wanna get back to my normal set up. Im sooooo confused. Help would be GREATLY appreciated thankyou! (btw: im getting a message saying kernal must be booted before i can boot my computer. How could i go about booting kernel?) thankyou!
you can set grub password and the password for the cmos. make sure the chasis is locked.
hey when i restart the system then it stop to the following line..then i can’t cross over the step…
GNU Grub version 0.97
[Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, tab lists possible command completiions. Anywhere else TAB lists the possible completions of a device/filename]
grub >
plz how to cross over from here…..hope u all suggest me..
i have followed the whole procedure but i don’t know what to do when i get the place asking for root password or an option of Ctrl-D to continue.
how do i bypass this since i dont remember my root password?
pls help!
This is useful information can anyone send me this type of information in details
I have also stuck exactly where Baariu Martin is.. Kindly help with more info.. Thanks :)
I have ubuntu 8.04 and it is not allowing me to enter the single user mode. I have used the option e for the same and entered single at the end of the line but it does not work please let me know what should i do and what option should i use.