title: Unixware 2.1.3 reset root password
body: <p>I have been working on this problem for several days and cannot find any other suggestions on-line.</p>
  
  <p>I have an old Lucent server running a proprietary Unixware 2.1.3 that I want to access but do not know any of the passwords. By building a new install of 2.1.3 on a spare disk I have built my emergency boot diskettes and can boot and mount the old hard drive and edit the files. However, when I remove the hash from the /etc/shadow file:</p>
  
  <pre><code>root::10630::::::
  daemon:NP:6445::::::
  bin:NP:6445::::::  .....
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The system still wants a password for root. Just Pressing Enter doesn't work.</p>
  
  <p>I have also tried setting the /etc/passwd file to:</p>
  
  <pre><code>root::0:3:0000-Admin(0000):/:/usr/bin/ksh
  daemon:x:1:12:0000-Admin(0000):/:
  bin:x:2:2:0000-Admin(0000):/usr/bin:
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>with the same result.</p>
  
  <p>Experimenting on the new install drive I get the same results, however on the new install I can log in as root and run "passwd -d root" and the system behaves as expected and does not prompt me for a password at login.</p>
  
  <p>If it has any relevance, I notice that the /etc directory contains shadow, oshadow (which appears to be a backup of shadow) and shadow.em that contains entries for root, bin and sys. Ditto with the passed file. I have tried editing these files too, but with no success.</p>
  
  <p>Finally, I tried editing the home directory for root in the passed file on the new install but when I logged in it made no difference. Is it possible that the system is using an alternate to passwd, and if so how do I determine which file it is?</p>
  
  <p>Thank you in advance.</p>