Oracle sys password lost
Well, if you have full access to the database host you don't need to delete and re-create the password file.

According to Using Operating System Authentication section in Database Administrator's Guide logging in as an OS user which is a member of dba group on *nix or ora_dba group on Windows and connecting to an Oracle Database instance using SQL*Plus with SYSDBA or SYSOPER privileges should do the trick.

$ ssh root@orcldbxe1
[root@orcldbxe1 ~]# su - oracle
[oracle@orcldbxe1 ~]$ groups
oinstall wheel dba
[oracle@orcldbxe1 ~]$ sqlplus / as sysdba

SQL*Plus: Release 11.2.0.2.0 Production on Fri Aug 22 08:22:35 2014

Copyright (c) 1982, 2011, Oracle.  All rights reserved.


Connected to:
Oracle Database 11g Express Edition Release 11.2.0.2.0 - 64bit Production

SQL&gt; select status from v$instance;

STATUS
------------
OPEN

SQL&gt;


That's why it's called operating system authentication – you use operating system group. Simple and convenient, and no need to remember passwords. I always use it.

Once you're in, you can reset passwords and do other administrative tasks.

SQL&gt; alter user spongebob identified by s3cr3t;