How to change your root password without MobileTerminal

[bkingtu83]

Ok, since i jailbroke my iphone 4 on 4.1, i want to ssh into it, but i want to be on the safe side and change my root password. As most people have found out, MobileTerminal is not working on the iphone 4 (or it could be just the ios 4.1). Whatever the case may be, it just crashes upon opening, so you cant change your password from the device.

Well, after a little searching, i found a way to change the root password for my iphone 4 without using MobileTerminal. Here is how

Before I go any further, this is for WINDOWS users. I do not have a mac, but this youtube video will work for you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKaOskbIWGU

For those of you with Windows, this is what all you need:
On iPhone
Jailbroken iphone 4 on 4.1 (im assuming this will work with others phones as well as other firmwares)
OpenSSH installed through Cydia

On PC:
winSCP (downloadable here) http://sourceforge.net/projects/winscp/files/WinSCP/4.2.9/winscp429setup.exe/download
Putty (downloadable here)http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html
note: for putty, download the putty.exe file (first one in first column). THIS IS ALL YOU NEED!
and obviously of course, a wifi connection with both the phone and pc hooked up to it

1. obtain the ip address of your iphone
2. open Putty on your pc
3. when the putty box opens, input your iphone ip address as the host name. make sure the port # is 22 and the connection type is SSH. a box appears about the cache, bla bla bla. i just clicked ok
4. when the box opens, it will say "login as". type in "root"
5. the next line should say "root@<iphone ip address>'s password". input the word "alpine"
6. the next line should say "<your iphone name>:~ root#". input the command "passwd"
7. input your new password, and re-enter it to verify it
8. it should go back to the line from #6. if this is correct, open winSCP
9. in winSCP, input your iphone's ip as the host name, ROOT as the username, and your new password as the password. and click login
10. if all is successful, you should have SSH'd into your iphone with your new password

i know this is sort of vague and sloppy, but i will update later tonight with more details and screenshots

hope this helps everyone

 

[hoffmant]

I had no problem with MobileTerminal (the one designed for iOS 4) on 4.1 today. Got my password changed & was able to SSH just fine.

 

[kre62]

I actually have a better solution for the dilemma of root passwords:

Don't bother with changing your root password at all. Because you shouldn't bother with SSH at all.

If you want to modify your iphones file contents, and browse the file system, use ifunbox. No SSH, ip addresses, multiple programs, root passwords, etc, needed.

I promise you you'll be able to do 100% of what you think you want to do with SSH, with ifunbox.

 

[sidewinder]

1. obtain the ip address of your iphone
2. open Putty on your pc
3. when the putty box opens, input your iphone ip address as the host name. make sure the port # is 22 and the connection type is SSH. a box appears about the cache, bla bla bla. i just clicked ok
4. when the box opens, it will say "login as". type in ROOT
5. the next line should say "root@<iphone ip address>'s password". input the word ALPINE
6. the next line should say "<your iphone name>:~ root#". input the command PASSWD
7. input your new password, and re-enter it to verify it
8. it should go back to the line from #6. if this is correct, open winSCP
9. in winSCP, input your iphone's ip as the host name, ROOT as the username, and your new password as the password. and click login
10. if all is successful, you should have SSH'd into your iphone with your new password

i know this is sort of vague and sloppy, but i will update later tonight with more details and screenshots (bein rushed out the door on a date)

hope this helps everyone

It would be a help except that usernames and passwords are case sensitive so you instructions will never work.

S-

 

[sidewinder]

I promise you you'll be able to do 100% of what you think you want to do with SSH, with ifunbox.

This is wrong on so many levels it is laughable....

S-

 

[xavierpunkreno]

I actually have a better solution for the dilemma of root passwords:

Don't bother with changing your root password at all. Because you shouldn't bother with SSH at all.

If you want to modify your iphones file contents, and browse the file system, use ifunbox. No SSH, ip addresses, multiple programs, root passwords, etc, needed.

I promise you you'll be able to do 100% of what you think you want to do with SSH, with ifunbox.

+1

 

[apmorency]

Mobile terminal is not the only terminal app. There are others available from the app store.

 

[jayhawk11]

I had no problem with MobileTerminal (the one designed for iOS 4) on 4.1 today. Got my password changed & was able to SSH just fine.

This.

You can download the newest version here: Mobile Terminal 472 on Google Code

Or, if you're lazy, you can get a slightly older version from the Xsellize repo by following these directions: Installing Mobile Terminal 426 from Xsellize

 

[kre62]

This is wrong on so many levels it is laughable....

S-

Name one material thing, S. I know you're going to say you cant do it over wifi, right? Thats not what I'm referring to. I'm referring to transferring, and modifying, files on your iPhone. Why else would you use SSH? Name something, come on.

If someone created a program that double clicked the internet icon for you, sidewinder would use it. I prefer to just get shi! done.

 

[sidewinder]

Name one material thing, S. I know you're going to say you cant do it over wifi, right? Thats not what I'm referring to. I'm referring to transferring, and modifying, files on your iPhone. Why else would you use SSH? Name something, come on.

If someone created a program that double clicked the internet icon for you, sidewinder would use it. I prefer to just get shi! done.

Name one?? Can't do it. But I can name at least 7 without thinking about.

Here they are:

1. Find the location of a file when I know the name or even just part of name.

2. Find a file based on it's content.

3. Get a list of all files, sorted by size, with the largest files at the top of the list.

4. Generate a list of installed packages.

5. Manually install or remove packages.

6. Easily and quickly edit plist files.

7. Easily delete bad repos.

S-

 

[kre62]

Name one?? Can't do it. But I can name at least 7 without thinking about.

Here they are:

1. Find the location of a file when I know the name or even just part of name.

2. Find a file based on it's content.

3. Get a list of all files, sorted by size, with the largest files at the top of the list.

4. Generate a list of installed packages.

5. Manually install or remove packages.

6. Easily and quickly edit plist files.

7. Easily delete bad repos.

S-

You're 0/7. I can do all of the above with ifunbox. Especially the plist editing, deletion of repos, app install and remove, etc. You would not believe how easy ifunbox is to use.

Try again. Or don't, don't worry about it. We all know you try to make life harder on yourself so you can feel smart.

 

[spamdumpster]

You're 0/7. I can do all of the above with ifunbox. Especially the plist editing, deletion of repos, app install and remove, etc. You would not believe how easy ifunbox is to use.

Try again. Or don't, don't worry about it. We all know you try to make life harder on yourself so you can feel smart.

I think what s/he's suggesting is that you can't run terminal commands with ifunbox, that it's just a file explorer. I don't know if this is true, because I've never used ifunbox. But, I suspect that you cannot run terminal commands, and, if that's true, you just got owned in a big, big way. But, again, I don't know.

 

[sidewinder]

You're 0/7. I can do all of the above with ifunbox. Especially the plist editing, deletion of repos, app install and remove, etc. You would not believe how easy ifunbox is to use.

Try again. Or don't, don't worry about it. We all know you try to make life harder on yourself so you can feel smart.

Explain how you can run the "dpkg" command to install and remove packages.

Explain how you can run the "dpkg" command to generate a list of installed packages.

Explain how you find a file or list of files based on their content.

Explain how you could generate a text file with a list of files sorted by size.

Explain how you would edit a plist file on the device.

Explain how you would delete a bad repo.

S-

 

[kre62]

I think what s/he's suggesting is that you can't run terminal commands with ifunbox, that it's just a file explorer. I don't know if this is true, because I've never used ifunbox. But, I suspect that you cannot run terminal commands, and, if that's true, you just got owned in a big, big way. But, again, I don't know.

How did I get owned in a big big way? What actual use is running terminal commands? If you need to run terminal commands, get mobile terminal on your phone. I suspect not many users need terminal commands.

I think you and S are thinking of iPhone explorer. Not the same thing. The program I'm referring to lets you do much more, including transferring music directly to your phone without itunes, install cydia apps as mentioned, search, PLIST instant conversion and editing, and more.

OK i'll modify my original statement. 99.9% of things a person wants to accomplish with SSH can be done with IFB. But heres the real kicker: There is 0 configuration, no password hassels, no ip addresses, aka the return on your time is exponentially better.

Heres a screenshot showing the program and some of the stuff it does, including real time translation of app names from crypic key strings to names:

 

[kre62]

Explain how you can run the "dpkg" command to install and remove packages.

Explain how you can run the "dpkg" command to generate a list of installed packages.

Explain how you find a file or list of files based on their content.

Explain how you could generate a text file with a list of files sorted by size.

Explain how you would edit a plist file on the device.

Explain how you would delete a bad repo.

S-

Dont need to run the commands for the first two. You can do what you want to do (modify packages) with the program itself. See the screenshot where it says "Install Cydia App"?

Search for files is present in screenshot. You can also search with size constraints.

It converts Plists instantly and displays then using a text editor.

Bad repos are found in a plist in the cydia folder, simply open it and delete.


I could go on an on.

 

[outphase]

I'm still curious as to how "Cydia App Install" allows you to install a .deb file such as the commcenter patch.

There's always someone that's anti-GUI or anti-CLI in every crowd.

 

[kre62]

I'm still curious as to how "Cydia App Install" allows you to install a .deb file such as the commcenter patch.

Ask the developer. It works so who cares?

I will state it again: 99% of what (I'll say) 99% of jailbreakers want to do can be accomplished this way. "Power Users" might need some minuscule feature of SSH, but i'm betting if they are honest with themselves, they will find that most of their needs would be met by this program.

 

[outphase]

Ask the developer. It works so who cares?

I will state it again: 99% of what I'll say 99% of jailbreakers want to do can be accomplished this way. "Power Users" might need some minuscule feature of SSH, but i'm betting if they are honest with themselves, they will find that most of their needs would be met by this program.

Why do you care if a power user chooses SSH? Does it physically hurt you to know that someone is more comfortable with it than you are?

 

[bytethese]

Name one material thing, S. I know you're going to say you cant do it over wifi, right? Thats not what I'm referring to. I'm referring to transferring, and modifying, files on your iPhone. Why else would you use SSH? Name something, come on.

If someone created a program that double clicked the internet icon for you, sidewinder would use it. I prefer to just get shi! done.

Personally, I do forensic captures over Wifi, need SSH, netcat and dd for it to work.

 

[kre62]

Why do you care if a power user chooses SSH? Does it physically hurt you to know that someone is more comfortable with it than you are?

Its just not needed. Why would I go through a 40 step process to do what I can do with 1 step?

 

[spamdumpster]

How did I get owned in a big big way? What actual use is running terminal commands? If you need to run terminal commands, get mobile terminal on your phone. I suspect not many users need terminal commands.

I so hope that you're joking or trolling.

This whole thread is about someone trying to do something without mobileterminal that you really need mobileterminal to do. So, even if ifunbox could wash your car and make you a tasty sandwich, if it can't run terminal commands, it can't be use as a replacement for mobileterminal.

 

[kre62]

Personally, I do forensic captures over Wifi, need SSH, netcat and dd for it to work.

Yeah I was guessing someone would have a legitimate use for SSH. But for most users, who just want to modify their phones contents, or install a winterboard theme, don't you think its overkill when an alternative like this exists?

 

[kre62]

I so hope that you're joking or trolling.

This whole thread is about someone trying to do something without mobileterminal that you really need mobileterminal to do. So, even if ifunbox could wash your car and make you a tasty sandwich, if it can't run terminal commands, it can't be use as a replacement for mobileterminal.

They want to do something (change their root password) they wouldnt have to do in the FIRST PLACE if they used ifunbox. See? If you use SSH, you have to change your password. To change your password you need mobile terminal. After you do all that, you use SSH to lets say put a theme on your phone.

I prefer to just put the theme on the phone, and not worry about the rest. End result is the same.

 

[outphase]

They want to do something (change their root password) they wouldnt have to do in the FIRST PLACE if they used ifunbox. See? If you use SSH, you have to change your password. To change your password you need mobile terminal. After you do all that, you use SSH to lets say put a theme on your phone.

I prefer to just put the theme on the phone, and not worry about the rest. End result is the same.

So what you're saying is that instead of posting on topic (that is changing the root password w/o mobile terminal), you are having a crusade against SSH because you personally don't have a use for it?

 

[kre62]

So what you're saying is that instead of posting on topic (that is changing the root password w/o mobile terminal), you are having a crusade against SSH because you personally don't have a use for it?

Might as well educate people while I'm at it. I'm here to help bro.