You are NOT editing the parameters, script,...like the instructions tell you
by samhain »I press 'e', then I get a screen headed 'Set params Debian GNU/Linux".Under that is what I take to be the grub parameters, or a script anyway. If I cursor down a few lines and press 'e' again it just echos 'e' to the screen.
Try reading the instructions more carefully,
you must find the line that is the "kernel line", it is pretty obvious be cause
it is the only line in the script mentioning the kernel, then you edit it, adding,
(appending) the "init=/bin/bash/code",...
Select the appropriate boot entry in the GRUB menu and press e to edit the line.
Select the kernel line and press e again to edit it.
Append
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init=/bin/bash
at the end of line.
Press Ctrl-X to boot (this change is only temporary and will not be saved to your menu.lst). After booting you will be at the bash prompt.
Your root file system is mounted as readonly now, so remount it as read/write
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mount -n -o remount,rw /.
Use the
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passwd
command to create a new root password.
Reboot by typing reboot -f and do not lose your password again!
Note, I do not have UEFI,and never will, but I saw a note on that:
If you have a UEFI system it's the line that starts with linuxefi
So I don't know on that, maybe some of the UEFI users do.
And yes you can also do this using a live CD, there are many instructions
in the search results on that as well.
There are various ways to do this, if one does not work , try another.
I found this, you still need some minimal reading skills, but it is mostly pictures ,
Scroll down to method 2 "without root password"
http://www.wikihow.com/Change-the-Root-Password-in-Linux==== note =====
y samhain » I did try the instructions given there but I suspect they may be for a different version of grub or something,
Well, then you need to tell us what version of grub you are using, you should have done that to start with, What makes you suspect this ? did you install a different version ?
I suspect the "or something", is something you have done , but are not telling us,
Is this really your computer ?
====== If all else fails =========
The above method, editing the grub, has worked for me as well, but if nothing else works, you could just re-install, and this time be sure you get the root password right, maybe even write it down on a piece of paper, or something,
keep it in you wallet,...