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From: brian@awfulhak.demon.co.uk (Brian Somers)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: corrupt etc/spwd.db
Date: 7 May 1996 16:47:49 +0100
Organization: Coverform Ltd.
Lines: 35
Message-ID: <4mnrb5$151@anorak.coverform.lan>
References: <4m9j3i$qcq@netnews.upenn.edu>
X-NNTP-Posting-Host: awfulhak.demon.co.uk
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2]
Eric M. Umansky (eumansky@mail1.sas.upenn.edu) wrote:
: For unknown reasons, the spwd.db and passwd files seem to have erased
: themselves. We have been able to access the files using single user-mode, but
: the problem is that we don't know what to put in the spwd.db file. And until
: we can put something there, we are SOL. So any suggestions on where we might
: be able to find what goes in these files?
: Please respond to:
: umansky@motherjones.com
: whisenant@motherjones.com
How can you access the files if they've erased themselves, and where did
you get an OO filesystem ? On my filesystem, I have to erase files with
a program.
Why don't you try booting single user and doing the following:
mount -u /
mount -a
vipw
If you've got no data in the file, enter the following line:
root::0:0::/root:/bin/csh
Write the file and quit and you should see a message saying something like
"rebuilding the database".
Alternatively, if the passwd file is actually there, just type
pwd_mkdb
--
Brian <brian@awfulhak.demon.co.uk>
Don't _EVER_ lose your sense of humour....