How to reset lost root password

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS  (Linux)
Q: How to recover root password in Linux ?


This will applicable to all RPM based linux distributions like Redhat, CentOS, Fedora, etc.
Step1:While starting the system(just after BIOS), press "down arrow key" continuesly for getting Boot loader menu(grub) like below.

CentOS Linux (2.6.32-71.el6.x86.64)


Step2: On the boot loader menu(grub), highlight the Linux operating system title     (above), and press "p" for enter a grub password. (skip step:2 if haven't a grub password)


Step3: On the boot loader menu(grub), highlight the Linux operating system name (above). and press "e" for edit the grub menu.


Step4: Now Edit the line starting with "kernel  /vmlinuz-2.6.32-71.el6.........." by press "e", and type "<space>1"(hit "space key" and hit "1") as below and press enter.
<LE=us crashkernel=auto rhgb quiet 1
and now press "b" for boot.


Step5: Now you will go to single user mode and you will get root console without root password. Here you can reset the root password by..
[root@host /]#passwd

Changing password for user root.
New password:
Retype new password:
passwd: all authentication tokens updated successfully.


reboot the system by the command "reboot" and boot the linux normaly

LABELS: CentOS, extra-tips, FAQ, Fedora, How-To, linux, Redhat