From:	MERC::"uunet!CRVAX.SRI.COM!RELAY-INFO-VAX" 16-MAR-1993 21:51:20.81
To:	Info-VAX@KL.SRI.COM
CC:	
Subj:	Re: Microvax II, Account Login

In article <9303152055.AA01781@univax.fhda.edu>, hasan%dvax.dnet@univax.fhda.edu (Mr_Smart) writes:
> 	Hello All,
> 
> 	We are faced with a very interesting problem here!
> 
> 	We have just upgraded one of our standalone Microvax II's
>         to VMS 5.4-3.
> 
> 	There are still no queues and we have no new accounts 
> 	created on the machine.
> 
> 	So we just have the SYSTEM account to work with.  One
> 	of our system programmers changed the password for the
> 	system account and has now forgotten it.  The regular
> 	FIELD and SYSTEST etc accounts which get created at
> 	the time of the VMS installation were also disabled
> 	by the person.
> 
> 	So, now is there a way to log into this machine?  Short
> 	of re-installing the operating system again?
> 
> 	Without any available account I can't even look at the
> 	files etc. on the microvax from the remote systems.
> 
> 
> 	Any help or suggestions in this matter will be greatly
> 	appreciated.
> 
> 
> 
> 
>    //======================================================================\\
>    ||  Syed Mahmood Hasan                 -+-       Systems Programmer     ||
>    ||                                                                      ||
>    ||  Foothill-De Anza Community College District, Los Altos, California  ||
>    ||                                                                      ||
>    ||  Internet: Hasan@admin.fhda.edu     -+-       Phone: (408)864-8242   ||
>    \\======================================================================//
> 
-
Syed,
 
There is one way which is guaranteed to work. 
 
(Note: The following is not a breach of security, the exact same 
information is in the VMS Systems Manager Manual)
 
Manually bootstrap the system, specifying B/R5:1 device-name.
 
When you get the prompt from SYSBOOT, change the startup command 
file to the operator console "SET /STARTUP=OPA:". Then, enter the 
command "CONTINUE".
 
You will receive a "$" prompt, however the system will not truly 
be usable at this point.
 
VERY IMPORTANT: At this point, issue the "SPAWN" command, 
otherwise a variety of common errors will be fatal.
 
Now, issue the command "@[SYS0.SYSEXE]STARTUP". This command will 
run the normal system startup, except that it will leave you 
logged in at the console.
 
When the startup completes, go into AUTHORIZE, re-set the 
passwords, and away you go.
 
I believe that the above is correct, however, I do not have an 
opportunity at the moment to verify all of the above by 
re-booting the system.
 
I hope that the above is helpful. If you have any questions, 
please feel free to contact me via Email. 
 
- Bob
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