NeXT Computers

Mike

Hello to all: My first post because I got a nice NeXTStation TODAY (for free) and it is complete. Keyboard, monitor, two mice, NeXTStation slab, and it looks like everything is clean and works properly. The fellow who had it did not use it (impulse buy) and he gave it to me with no idea of what the login ID and password might be. I have no software for this computer and nothing in the house that can burn floppy disks. Is there any way to reset BOTH the User Name and the Password without spending a lot of money on bootable system disks ?? I am located in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4370787/NeXT%20%2016.40.20.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4370787/NeXT%20%2016.40.53.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4370787/NeXT%2016.39.05.jpg

barcher174 · Joined: 07 Dec 2012 Posts: 624

How to reset the root password:

First boot into single user mode
ROM> bsd -s

Start the services:
# sh /etc/rc &

Reset the root password
# passwd root

Mike · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2017 4:39 pm Post subject:

Mike · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2017 4:42 pm Post subject:

Also....

My only experience with computers has been with Macintosh computers.

Is there a keyboard command to execute during StartUp that will get me into Single User Mode ??

Thanks !!

Rob Blessin Black Hole · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2017 6:29 pm Post subject:

command ~ immediately after testing system goes to loading from disk
also we have the system administration manual here
http://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Docs/NeXTStep/3.3/nsa/ page 299
_________________
Rob Blessin President computerpowwow ebay sales@blackholeinc.com http://www.blackholeinc.com
303-741-9998 Serving the NeXT Community since 2/9/93

Mike · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2017 7:55 pm Post subject:

Mike · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2017 8:10 pm Post subject:

Also...... When I called the fellow who gave me the computer to ask about the forgotten Name and Password for it he also mentioned that he believed that there was very likely a hardware password, but, of course, he did not remember what that was either.

He seems determined to make this difficult.

It appears that resetting the root password properly requires that I have the hardware password as well, and I do not have this and neither does he.

Is this process of resurrecting the NeXTStation possibly more trouble than it is worth ? I do not have any software diskettes for this machine and its is starting to look like I might need a bootable installer set of floppies to get ahead of this problem.

Mike

Rob Blessin Black Hole · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2017 8:31 pm Post subject:

Hello Mike : I'll help you get through it for a hardware password , you need to pull the battery . To open the case a single screw holds the cover on located center back and hinges forward. It will then default boot from network so you change it back under parameters to boot from the drive. I'm willing to help get you into the system. By phone 303 741 9998 best regards Rob
_________________
Rob Blessin President computerpowwow ebay sales@blackholeinc.com http://www.blackholeinc.com
303-741-9998 Serving the NeXT Community since 2/9/93

Mike · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2017 9:32 pm Post subject:

The game has changed...

I read over the information from the links you sent. Thanks for that. You are a prince !!

On a hunch I hoped for the best and put in "root" as the NAME and ran through his children names for PASSWORD and suddenly I got a Desktop.... and everything simply works.

I have a System installed but no programs, so its time to start filling in the blanks.

Thanks !!!

cubist · Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Posts: 251 Location: Cambridge, MA

Noth · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 5:02 pm Post subject:

If you delete the NetInfo db, the system reverts to a no-password "me" account. Then you set a password for "me", and log out. You can then login as root with an empty password. This is the recommended procedure.
_________________
NeXT Cube 040 (NeXTSTEP 3.3), SUN SparcStation5 (NeXTSTEP 3.3), SGI Indigo2 R10000 (IRIX 6.5.22), SGI VSW320 (Windows 2000/Slakware 9.1)

Mike · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 5:21 pm Post subject:

The hard drive died. I'll see what I can do once I get it up and running again....

Thanks for the tip.

Mike