i changed my /etc/passwd file accidentally and typed a letter 'q' in it, while in root. after tht i exited frm root, and now i can not login to root becoz of maligning the file.
Mine is grub loader....and i tried changing the file while booting..but in vain..
plz help.

i changed the command line of grub ..and added init=/bin/bash to get root access...
and as /etc/passwd is changed its not recognizing root as username....

inspite of showing root@arpit:#/
it is showing something like : I have no name@#/
and it is displaying /etc/passwd file as read only file....and i m not able to change it in vi...its alwez showing some error..plz helpp

some confusion: you
A. can?
B. can not?
run as root?
If B., ls -l /etc/passwd*
There may be some older backup files to replace /etc/passwd. NOTE: create a copy of passwd before doing anything else.

Have you tried "less passwd" to view the file?

I do not know debian. It might have a rescue disk.

If all else fails and you are not a newbie, download & create a tom's diskette (www.toms.net/rb), boot it and you should be able to repair things.

BTW, why were you editing (with vi?) /etc/passwd?

If you have a live linux cd around like knoppix you could use that too. Boot, mount the partition and edit back the file.

See if this helps: http://zwarecreations.com/htpasswd_generator.php

It encrypts with crypt(), I have never tried it in this manner though, just a wild thought.

Siggy: Always check the manual first, Google helps too.