Mageia forum

Running in VMware Workstation 9.04.
After done a big update (804 packages) of Mageia 4 beta 2 (i586) this morning it is impossible to log in.
The same happends a few days ago when I did a big update of Mageia 4 Beta 1.
It is impossible to login as your own or as root. Both trying to login through GUI or through terminal.
The same happeds to me with Mageia 4 Alpha 2. I don't understand why this happends and I don't know how to solv such a problem.
There have to be some major problem with the update process that destroy the possibility to login.

Now I did a new clean installation of Mageia 4 Beta 2 to test if the problem still exist after an update. The installation was done from an iso dated 12 dec 2013.
The login worked s expected. Added new media.
After a few minutes I get a signal (mgaonline) that there is new updates (14 packages, includes draktools 16.13 and harddrake.
Logged out and logged in again. No problem logg in. Vaiting for a new signal for more updates.

The culprit may have been an update to the setup package. When setup is updated, you may be asked if you want to update certain config files, such as /etc/passwd. It is usually best to keep the existing config files and not accept the "rpmnew" versions.

Jim

That's looks like to be the reason to the for the problem.
But how do I do to repair the error. I can't access the system because its impossible to login as root?
I supose that the old setup-file still exist?

The previous version of /etc/passwd is usually kept as /etc/passwd-. It may be possible to boot a live CD or the Mageia rescue system, mount the root partition of the installed system and restore the previous version, or preferably from a system backup, if you have one.

Jim

I have been informed to do as in this topic
https://forums.mageia.org/en/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6346
But I do not understand where to hit the F6 key.
Is there anyone that can explain where to hit the F6-key? I need more detailed instructions.

Unfortunately the installer uses different shortcuts than the installed system. For installer, it's F6: http://doc.mageia.org/installer/3/en/co ... aller.html
For the installed system, it's F3.

Thanks for info. It help me change the root password. But then I couldn't change the user password.
I also have been informed why this happends, choose setup.new at the updateprocess, an important knowledge for the future.
For me the case is closed now when I understand what's happend.
Thanks for help.

janpihlgren wrote:For me the case is closed now when I understand what's happend.

Well, Ken-Bergen explained already what happened, what do you miss?