How to Reset Root Password in Linux

If you forgot your Linux root password, you can use this technique

1. Boot the system and when you see the following message "Press any key to enter the menu",press any key. (You will see the list of available kernel versions.)

2. Press e in order to edit commands before booting.

3. Highlight the list item with vmlinuz in it by using the arrow keys and press e.

4. Now type single or init 1 at the end of the line (you must enter SPACE first).

5. Then press enter and b to boot the system with the new argument. (The system will boot into single user mode and you will see bash prompt)

Now it's time to change the password:

6. Type passwd

1.### Shell Commands ###

2.passwd

3.Enter new UNIX password:

4.Retype new UNIX password:

5.passwd: password updated successfully

7. Type reboot to restart the system.

Source: Java