I can't log in, dropped something on keyboard and username seems to have gotten scrambled

[Brickwizard]

IF you have damaged your keyboard and cannot run any of the suggestions given, BORROW a usb keyboard and use that, if after then trying the suggested fixes its still not working on the built-in keypad, repair or take to an engineer for repair.

 

[Deadtroopers]

This machine has two intalls on it. One I can access; one I can't because the user name got scrambled by something falling on the keyboard as I booted it. It isn't a keyboard problem; it isn't a Grub2 problem; and it isn't a password problem. The user name of the install I can't access is scrambled and I need to unscramble it so I can log in to that install. I presume I can do this from the working install. Timeshift is active for both installs (fortunately?); the reason I was firing up the now non-functional install was to turn off or reconfigure Timeshift because it, along with another programme has become a bloody nuisance. I'm running Mint 20.3 in both instances.

 

[Condobloke]

If you were use a bootable usb stick......you probably already have one with LM20.3......and access Timeshift on that 'Live" usb .....set the Location (in settings) where the timehsift snapshots are stored....and Restore to the most recent snapshot...or one that you know is in good shape.......

When it reboots after the Restore.....hopefully you will be back in business

I am going to ask @wizardfromoz to have a look here, if he would be so kind. Just to ensure I have got this right.

 

[wizardfromoz]

My ears are burning

Just to ensure I have got this right.

Sounds good, mostly.

When it reboots after the Restore.....

The OP will need to remove the stick and manually reboot. Timeshift only auto-reboots when it is launched from within the affected distro to restore from a non-fatal problem.

the reason I was firing up the now non-functional install was to turn off or reconfigure Timeshift because it, along with another programme has become a bloody nuisance.

@Deadtroopers it sounds as if you do not have the settings optimally set for your environment. If you wish any help in that regard, swing by my thread here and we'll sort something out after you have your login restored.

Cheers

Wizard

 

[Deadtroopers]

If you were use a bootable usb stick......you probably already have one with LM20.3......and access Timeshift on that 'Live" usb .....set the Location (in settings) where the timehsift snapshots are stored....and Restore to the most recent snapshot...or one that you know is in good shape.......

When it reboots after the Restore.....hopefully you will be back in business

I am going to ask @wizardfromoz to have a look here, if he would be so kind. Just to ensure I have got this right.

Thanks, I'll look into that. Though the kernel and all the software have been updated so often I doubt the install media rembles much what is there now! Could I do this thru' the working install on my box, do you know or does it have to be from the live install media?

 

[Deadtroopers]

My ears are burning

Sounds good, mostly.


The OP will need to remove the stick and manually reboot. Timeshift only auto-reboots when it is launched from within the affected distro to restore from a non-fatal problem.



@Deadtroopers it sounds as if you do not have the settings optimally set for your environment. If you wish any help in that regard, swing by my thread here and we'll sort something out after you have your login restored.

Cheers

Wizard

I have a second install on the box, could I not use that or does it have to be from the live install media for a reason? And thanks for the link to delve into Timeshift settings; I'll cruise by when I've sorted this out.

 

[wizardfromoz]

I have a second install on the box, could I not use that or does it have to be from the live install media for a reason?

If you have Timeshift on it you certainly can, and if not, you can install Timeshift on it and then use it to restore the other distro.

Wizard

 

[xanifer]

I dropped something on the keyboard at Grub on boot. Now I get the GUI login prompt but it doesn't recognise the password. Dropping to the command line I find the username appears to be scrambled; instead of deadtroopers it now reads deadtroopers @deadtroopers:"$ and, obviously, my password won't work. Any ideas?

Can you take a picture of the screen and post that here? The command prompt should indeed say deadtroopers @deadtroopers:~$ for you if you named your user and computer deadtroopers. If that is the case then nothing is out of ordinary.

 

[Deadtroopers]

Can you take a picture of the screen and post that here? The command prompt should indeed say deadtroopers @deadtroopers:~$ for you if you named your user and computer deadtroopers. If that is the case then nothing is out of ordinary.

I can't do anything 'cos I can't log in to do anything, including take screenies.

Your writing out what you thought I'd written for what it said at the command prompt prompted me to look again. Peering at the screen from tip-of-my-nose distance it does indeed say that! Further out ~ looks like " to me. So I control+alt+F2ed and tried ls and it listed the correct Desktop. Progress! It looks like it is the password that is corrupted, I get "incorrect password" filling in the login box on the GUI. It shouldn't be presenting this GUI login wallpaper: neither install is set up to present the login screen; I only do that on laptops. The install is set-up to go straight to desktop.

 

[bob466]

Sounds like a very good time to learn how to create an Image of your Drive...you would have been up and running again in no time.

You say it's not the keyboard...it's now an incorrect password which you can reset but you say "neither install is set up to present the login screen; I only do that on laptops". The install is set-up to go straight to desktop.

I've never had your problem as both my Tower and Laptop have Login passwords that I can change if needed...If I had a password problem I couldn't fix...I'd Re-Image the Drive...it's better than a clean install.

 

[xanifer]

Sound like your password got screwed up, you should check out this link to reset your lost root password. https://linuxconfig.org/recover-reset-forgotten-linux-root-password

 

[Deadtroopers]

Sound like your password got screwed up, you should check out this link to reset your lost root password. https://linuxconfig.org/recover-reset-forgotten-linux-root-password

Thanks! That, after a dozen goes where it returned an error, took a very simple and insecure password. I suspect I have a key double-tapping intermittently and that it has been doing this for sometime before I dropped stuff on the keyboard and messed-up the login.

 

[Deadtroopers]

You can consider this closed now. Thanks to everyone; I think I was being misled by a keyboard fault that had been already present for a while.

 

[Condobloke]

It is a desktop, but that isn't relevant.

So you have a stand alone keyboard.

How sure are you that object hitting the keyboard didn't turn sticky keys on.....and produce the abnormality you are now experiencing ?

As it turns out, that has proven to be very relevant

Apparently it has been a known issue. Throw the keyboard away.

 

[Deadtroopers]

As it turns out, that has proven to be very relevant

Apparently it has been a known issue. Throw the keyboard away.

One doesn't bin an expensive keyboard for trivialities that can be corrected. My problem is sorted; I've been educated by the experience and my fellows. Win-Win; matter closed.

 

[wizardfromoz]

If you go to your first Post and choose edit you can add [SOLVED] to the title of your Thread.

Thanks

Wizard

 

[Deadtroopers]

Famous last words. I just rebooted and the problem is back. I've spent the last hour re-setting the password multiple times only to have the new password rejected as invalid. I'm down to entering a single letter as password and it is STILL rejected as invalid. This getting very silly.