Recover root password under linux with single user mode

Recover root password under linux with single user mode

It happens sometime that you can't remember root password. On Linux, recovering root password can be done by booting Linux under a specific mode:single user mode.
This tutorial will show how to boot Linux in single user mode when using GRUB and finally how to change root password.
During normal usage, a Linux OS runs under runlevels between 2 and 5 which corresponds to various multi-user modes. Booting Linux under runlevel 1 will allow one to enter into a specific mode, single user mode. Under such a level, you directly get a root prompt. From there, changing root password is a piece of cake.

1. ENTERING RUNLEVEL 1

Some Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu for instance, offer a specific boot menu entry where it is stated "Recovery Mode" or "Single-User Mode". If this is your case, selecting this menu entry will boot your machine into single user mode, you can carry on with the next part. If not, you might want to read this part.
Using GRUB, you can manually edit the proposed menu entry at boot time. To do so, when GRUB is presenting the menu list (you might need to press ESC first), follow those instructions:

• use the arrows to select the boot entry you want to modify.
• press e to edit the entry
• use the arrows to go to kernel line
• press e to edit this entry
• at the end of the line add the word single
• press ESC to go back to the parent menu
• press b to boot this kernel

The kernel should be booting as usual (except for the graphical splash screen you might be used to), and you will finally get a root prompt (sh#).
Here we are, we have gained root access to the filesystem, let's finally change the password.

2. CHANGING ROOT PASSWORD

As root, changing password does not ask for your old password, therefore running the command:

# passwd

will prompt you for your new password and will ask you to confirm it to make sure there is no typo.
That's it, you can now reboot your box and gain root access again

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How to Delete Stubborn Undeletable Files From Your PC the Easy Way [Tips, Tricks]

How to Delete Stubborn Undeletable Files From Your PC the Easy Way [Tips, Tricks]

In Windows operating systems, the administrator is considered to be the user with the most privileges. Despite having more privileges, many administrators are not able to delete their files. If you commonly use a computer as the administrator, you have likely experienced the following issues when trying to delete  files:

• Cannot delete file: Access is denied.
• The file is in use by another program or user.
• The source or destination of the file may be in use.

It is irritating to not have complete access to your files when you are the administrator. Fortunately, you can get rid of these files permanently through the command prompt or by using a program like FileASSASIN.

Using the Command Prompt To Delete Files:

You won’t need third applications to remove files using the command line.

Click the “Start” button and type “CMD” or “Command Prompt” inside the search box.

Right-click the “Command Prompt” icon from the search results and select “Run as administrator.”

This will launch an elevated or administrator level Command Prompt. Doing this allows you to execute commands without restriction.

An ideal command for removing a file should look like this:

DEL /F /Q /A C:\Users\Enter your username here\Enter the location of the file here\Enter the file name here

• DEL: Stands for delete
• /F: Stands for force delete
• /Q: Stands for quite mode. This means that it will prompt any notifications such as “Are you sure you want to delete this file?”
• /A: Stands for various file attributes such as read-only, hidden, ready for archiving, etc.
• /C: Stands for your main drive. In most cases, it is the “C:” drive.

For example if you want to delete a file named “virus.exe” on the desktop, you should enter the following command:

DEL /F /Q /A C:\Users\HackersRoom\Desktop\Virus.exe

Now hit the “Enter” key to execute the command. This will permanently delete the file.

If you prefer a less geeky way to delete an undeletable file, the software below can help.

FileASSASIN:

FileASSASIN is a free program created by the developers of Malwarebytes—a well-known anti-malware program.

Double-click the executable file to run FileASSASIN.

This is the main user interface of FileASSASIN

Click the “Browse” button to find files to delete.

After selecting a file to delete, FileASSASIN will provide you with several options. Select the“Delete” option if you want to erase the file.

Now click “Execute” to completely erase the file.

That’s all you need to do to delete a file. Not a complicated process – If you are not comfortable with the Command Prompt, you can always use File Assassin to delete those stubborn files.

Download FileASSASIN

Final Thoughts:

These are useful techniques for removing persistent and harmful malware files. However, remove your files with caution.  You may end up deleting essential files if you don’t do it carefully.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Android Kernels [Tips]

A Beginner’s Guide to Android Kernels [Tips]

Swapping out your kernel is one of the best ways to take advantage of rooting.With the right kernel, you can double your battery life or squeeze it for that extra performance. Understanding this concept is very helpful, and here’s why.

Alright, What’s a Kernel?

The term kernel comes from Linux, which is kind of the forerunner of Android. All Android phones come with a kernel installed on them. It is the communication link between hardware and software. One of its most important functions is Battery usage and the kernel dictates the life of your phone battery.
Your phone ships with the stock kernel. Phone manufacturers like HTC and Samsung are not exactly known for their willingness to take risks. The stock kernel put in your phone by the manufacturers is nice and safe that won’t ever break down.

The stock kernel provides a constant stream of battery power to the phone. It doesn’t matter if the phone is on or off or using lots of processing power. It sends a steady and totally safe amount of battery.
However, that safety comes with a price. A phone with the stock kernel uses the same amount of power even when not in use. That’s not very efficient. Plus, what if you want to run a processing-intensive app like an N64 emulator? More processing requires more power, but the stock kernel won’t scale up the amount of battery used.

New and Improved Kernels

This is where the Android community comes in. If you’re rooted and have some sort of recovery system like ClockworkMod or Amon-Ra installed, you can flash (install) a new kernel that’s more efficient.
The advantage of custom one is that they can output variable amounts of power. Say you want to save the battery. You can undervolt the phone’s processor. Undervolting is when you tell the kernel to only provide a tiny amount of power for the phone to run.

Undervolting does make your phone lag quite a lot, but its ability to save battery is incredible. A phone modified in this way with a custom kernel can seriously go days without charging.
Alternatively, you can overclock a phone. This is when the kernel outputs large amounts of power, amounts higher than the phone usually uses. This will eat through a battery extremely quickly, but it is great for apps that would lag otherwise (like N64 emulators). Not to mention everything loads extremely quickly when a phone is overclocked.
There are a few risks to installing a new kernel. If you tell it to use an amount of battery that’s too small, there is a chance that the phone won’t be able to turn on. This is calledbootlooping, or when the phone cannot access enough power in order to start itself. However, there is a way around bootlooping, as we will discuss later.

Picking a Kernel

There are a million different options out there. That’s probably a good thing, seeing as there are about a million different phone-ROM combinations with Android. Finding a good one for your specific phone and ROM can be a bit difficult, though.
Kernel Manager Lite : It’s a free app from the Android Market that will list out a couple popular kernels for some of the more popular ROMs like CyanogenMod7 and MIUI.

When deciding a kernel, people will throw a lot of different terms at you. You’ll see abbreviations like CFS, HAVS, and SBC. Keeping track of what everything means is a chore, so we’ll summarize.
Each abbreviation and item like overclocking and undervolting is a power mode that comes with that kernel. CFS, HAVS, and BFS are all power plans that scale the amount of power used up and down, depending on how much battery your phone requests. Each plan scales differently (faster or slower), but the concept is the same.

Terms Commonly Used with Kernels:

• Completely Fair Scheduler (CFS) is generally more consistent and stable. Stock HTC kernel uses CFS.
• Brain F*** Scheduler (BFS) is faster and generally gives more battery life but may be a bit inconsistent.
• Hybrid Adaptive Voltage Scaling (HAVS) manipulates the phone voltage for a better battery life. Performance usually varies for different devices.
• Static Voltage Scaling (SVS) provides a steady voltage.

You might also see SBC. That stands for Superior Battery Charging. Most phones battery percentage drops to 90% or so right after you unplug it due to the fast rate of charging. SBC charges a battery very slowly it doesn’t lose 10% immediately. Best used for charging phones overnight.

Undervolting and underclocking are different things but basically accomplish the same thing (saving battery). Overclocking is already explained.
When looking for a kernel, ideally you want one with as many of these features as possible. It’s nice to have choices. A good kernel comes at least undervolting, overclocking, and some sort of scaling plan (like CFS/HAVS/BFS).
If you don’t find any in Kernel Manager that look good, the last resort is lots of Googling. Just search “(your phone) (your ROM) kernels” and something from XDA Developers should come up.

Installing (Flashing) The Kernel:

Once you’ve found that perfect kernel that is compatible with your phone model and ROM, you have to actually install it. Download the kernel from whatever website or Kernel Manager. It should come as a .zip file. Copy that over to your SD card.
For installing a kernel, there are two options. If you pay for Kernel Manager Pro, the app will install the kernel for you. That’s the nice and easy way.

However, it’s not too hard to install a kernel without Kernel Manager. The other way to do it involves booting into recovery. If you don’t know how to do that on your phone, CM7’s wiki has a handy chart.
Once in recovery there are a few things that have to be done to prepare the way for the kernel. First and most importantly, make a nandroid backup of your phone. If anything goes wrong or if the phone gets stuck in an endless bootloop, this is how to fix it. Backups are very important.
There should be an option to “wipe cache.” Choose this and let it run. Next wipe the Dalvik cache. If you don’t see either of those options, look under “advanced” in ClockworkMod.
Now choose to install a .zip and choose the option to pick one from the SD card. Navigate to wherever you put the downloaded kernel. Pick the kernel and let it install. Once it’s finished, reboot your phone.

If everything went right, then you should have a new kernel. You can check by going to Settings > About phone > Software information and looking under “Kernel.” Hopefully, you’ll see the name of whatever kernel you flashed. Next step, controlling the kernel.

Apps for Kernel Management:

The kernel can work its magic now that it’s installed. However, you have to tell it to do so first. You can manually control it from the settings with certain ROMs like CyanogenMod. Everyone else will need third-party apps like SetCPU and Tasker.
SetCPU is simple and it works. Just tell it which power plan (undervolt, overclock, etc) you want to use and it does it for you. SetCPU works just fine with no glitches or anything. Just be careful how high you set the voltage.

However, Tasker is most favorite app for the various purposes of controlling kernel. Tasker automates certain processes, including kernel management. The best feature here is that you can set to app to automatically undervolt your phone every time the screen is off (like when you’re not using the phone).
This small change makes a titanic difference.
Of course, the ultimate judge of battery is how often you use your phone and how rigorously that usage gets. However, automated undervolting is a fantastic way to cut down on battery drain.

Final Thoughts

Installing a new kernel can be a bit dicey, but when done correctly there’s really a minimal risk. As long as you make a nandroid backup, there’s no reason to not try flashing a new, more efficient kernel. Besides, if you’re scared of diving into recovery mode you can just get Kernel Manager Pro to do the work for you.

Related Downloads:

Start a barcode (QR code) scanner on your phone and scan the QR code below. This will take you directly to the Android market to download the app. If you do not have a QR Code scanner app, choose one from the Best QR Code Scanner Apps for Android.

Download Kernel Manager Lite

Download SetCPU

Download Tasker

See Also:

•  A Beginner’s Look at Android ROMs

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How to install Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on PC [Tricks]

How to install Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on PC [Tricks]

Things We Need

• Java Development Kit
• Android Emulator SDK
• Android 4.0 SDK Platform (Follow The Tutorial)
• ARM EABI v7a System Image (Follow The Tutorial)
• A Working Internet Connection
• Windows (XP, Vista (32-Bit/64-Bit), Seven (32-Bit/64-Bit) or Windows 8) or Mac OS X (10.5.8 or later) or Linux.

Getting Ready

So 1st download and install the Java Development Kit (JDK) and then move to Android developer site to download Android SDK (both link provided already). Then install the SDK too. Then run the “SDK Manager.exe” from the installation directory.

Then the SDK Manager will start and load a list of all available packages (SDK Platform, System Image, Documentation, Samples APIs etc.). We are going to try Android 4.0 so we need only tools under “Android 4.0 (API 14) folder. Select the whole folder and then click on “Install xx packages” from the bottom-right side.

Now you will get a pop up regarding whether you accept to install those packages or not. You will also get description of all selected packages. Click on “Accept All” and then “Install”.

Note that if you don’t want to waste bandwidth, then select at least “SDK Platform” and “ARM EABI v7a System Image “ from the Android 4.0 (API 14) folder.

It will now start downloading those packages. Seat tight and wait for the process to finish. This step may take sometime depending on you Internet speed.

Troubleshooting: It looks to take a lots of time to download ARM EABI v7a System Image and even after trying sometimes, I failed to download it from there. So if you face the same problem, then close the “Android SDK Manage” window and then download ARM EABI v7a System Image manually using your browser/download manager and then copy the downloaded .zip file to the Temp folder under “Android SDK” installation directory. The default path is “C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk\temp”. After this, run the SDK Manager again and then select the “ARM EABI v7a System Image” under Android 4.0 (API 14) folder and then click Install. This time it will not download the package and it will be installed directly from temp.

Setting Up

Run the AVD Manager from “Tools > Manage AVDs” from the Android SDK Manager to set up next.

Alternately you can directly run AVD Manager from the Android SDK’s installation directory.

Now click on “New” to create a new AVD for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

On the name field, enter a name to call this AVD. I am inputting here “Ice-Cream_Sandwich”.

Now from the target menu, select “Android 4.0 – API Level 14”. This will determine our AVD’s platform.

Now lets make a dedicated disk space for SD Card of this AVD. I will be using 1 GB space for this so I am inputting 1024 on the field (as the size is in Megabyte format). 

Leave everything else as default. So the final configuration will look like this.

Review everything and then click on “Create AVD”. After sometimes you will see a notification saying the “Result of creating AVD ‘………’”. Hit ok. We are now ready to try Android 4.0.

Troubleshooting: If you get the error massage with “Error: Unable to find a ‘userdata.img’ file for ABI armeabi to copy into AVD folder.” like the following :-

then you surly have missed to download and install “ARM EABI v7a System Image”. We have already said how to do it. Please don’t ignore that step otherwise you will not be able to run Android 4.0.
Now you will see your newly created AVD name on the list (here’s mine – Ice-Cream_Sandwich). Highlight this and then click on “Start”.

Now hit launch from the popup.

Now AVD Manager will start to load up your AVD. Some command box will appear, just ignore them – they will be closed automatically. After sometimes the boot screen will switch to an Android boot animation. Then you Android Virtual Drive will load up. This might take 5-10 minutes to run Android for the first time.

Now you are all set to fly with Android 4.0. A few screenshots:

If you yet have any problem or anything to ask, please leave a message here.
Download Java Development Kit
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How To Use Gmail As A Cloud [Tips, Tricks]

How To Use Gmail As A Cloud [Tips, Tricks]

Gmail Cloud

It is possible. It’s not official. But it is possible with the help of this plugin named as Gmail Drive. Gmail allows you to send files along with your mail but it does not allow you to store your files online, just like that of a cloud. So why dont. It might be irritating for you when you suddenly want to send some picture or some other file to your friend. You need to login to your picasa or flickr and then you need to upload your file then give the URL. But here you can easily upload the file and save it in your Gmail cloud and save your precious time. And so now lets see on how to do this.

Requirements :Gmail Account
Gmail Drive

The Steps :

Download the Gmail Drive from here.
Extract the files.
Run the setup.
The setup lasts only for two minute.
After the setup open up My Computer.


Open Up the Gmail Drive. Enter your credentials and login to it.



And what’s more you are in.
Copy any file into this folder and it would be uploaded in the cloud !

Limitations :

Gmail Drive is in its developement stage and so it has some drawbacks. Some of them are as follows

It does not allow you to name a file more than a length of 65 characters.
It does not accepts application specific passwords. (If you use two step verification).

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How To Prevent Overheating Of Your PC's Internal Parts [Tips]

How To Prevent Overheating Of Your PC's Internal Parts [Tips]

People who use their Computers for hours and hours always have a chance of getting their CPU fried due to Overheating. As PCs contain a lot of parts inside it, almost all of them generate heat when your computer is on. Some parts, like the CPU and graphics card produce too much heat, when the computer is on for too many hours. In a properly configured computer, much of this heat is moved out of the computer's case by several fans. If your computer isn't removing the hot air fast enough, the temperature can get so hot that you risk serious damage to your PC.

Causes Of Overheating:

• Blocked or Malfunctioning Fans. The processor, some video cards, and even the CPU case itself have fans; however, when one or even all of them get blocked or damaged, insufficient air is allowed to go in or out, causing dangerous heat buildup. Dirt, dust, and other particles may stop the fans from working.
• Improper Air-flow. Even if your fans are working properly, when cables and other peripherals are improperly arranged, they may block the airflow resulting to overheating.
• Overclocking. Overclocking or “OC-ing” is a tweak done by enthusiasts to increase the speed and performance of their machines. It involves the modification of the voltage and frequency of the device, causing more heat. Overclocking needs high-performance or customized cooling systems. Without them, the system will surely overheat.
• Location of CPU. The location of the CPU is also a factor for overheating. If the case is placed at a small crowded area, chances are, the generated heat cannot escape and proper airflow is restricted, rendering the cooling system useless.

The Dangers of CPU Overheating: 

There is a limit on how high the temperature each hardware can tolerate. Once the temperature goes over that threshold, things like these can happen:

• Melt your device. Excessive heat may melt plastic components. For example, a processor with a jammed fan may melt the socket and even the motherboard, making it useless.
• Shorten its lifespan. Some devices may be able to endure overheating but may have a severely shortened lifespan. An overheating video card may last only for a year or less rather than several years.
• Cause fires. Cables and shells in your CPU may melt, short circuit, and later catch fire when the system overheats.
• Consume a lot of electricity. When a device overheats, it becomes less energy efficient, consuming more power than usual.

Common Signs of Overheating:  

It is hard to know if your computer has a cooling problem. In some computers, you will only know that it is overheating once it's too late. Newer models have security measures that can detect temperatures when these are getting too high. Here are the common signs:

• Hot exhaust
• Frequent and sudden restarts
• Frequent shutdowns
• Noisy fans.

Getting Rid of Overheating:

Overheating not only damages your computer, but can also cause a big dent in your pocket when the electric bill comes. Here are some tips to prevent overheating:

• Clean the CPU regularly. Dust and dirt can accumulate inside your computer and later block openings and fans. Use a brush and some pressurized air or a portable vacuum to easily remove those potential blockages.
• Rearrange the cables. Arranging the cables in your CPU will greatly help reduce the amount of heat that gets trapped inside. IDE cables, floppy cables, and even the cables from the power supply should be arranged in a manner that it does not restrict or trap air flow from the cooling system. You can replace your Flat IDE cables with the round type so that it does not trap heat. If you have more than one harddrive, you may want to put them slightly apart.
• Invest in a better cooling system. If you have high-end computer hardware, invest in a good cooling system. You can either go cheap by buying extra heavy duty fans or go hardcore and buy pricey water or gas cooling systems.
• Let the CPU “breathe”. The place where you put your CPU matters. Don't place it down under your tight desk nor place it inside a closed cabinet. Place it in an area where its fans can get enough cool air inside the case plus enough space to throw out the warm air from inside.
• A Temporary Fix When you don't have enough time or money to fix your computer's cooling system, a good way to temporarily get rid of overheating is by opening the case. You can then face an electric fan directly in front of it to cool it down as you use the PC. Just make sure you close the case right after you finish using your computer to prevent dirt and other foreign objects from entering it.

Summarizing The Tips (Given Above):

• The easiest thing you can do to keep your PC cool is to give it a little breathing room by removing any obstacles to air flow. Most of the hot air flows out of the back end of the computer case. There should be at least 2 to 3 inches open on either side and the back should be completely open and unobstructed.
  
• The Fans inside your PC are Responsible for Keeping the computer cool. Try to Clean them every once or twice a week to remove dusts, etc. These dusts slows down the fan and eventually makes it stop.
• Replace the Fans with new ones if the old one doesn't work properly or gets partially burned.
• Always keep your computer in a clean, well-ventilated area.
• Open your PC's case once or twice a year and use a computer vacuum or can of compressed air to clean out built up dust and debris.
• If your computer still getting heated with its built-in fans, get a small, external fan to blow into your computer.

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