If you have lost your System password, or indeed forgotten all password accessed account information on any of your prized VAXen, this little gem might just be your get out of jail free card.

So, here goes, your ‘Back-door to booting a DEC VAX and getting back on track guide.’

1.   Halt the VAX

2.  Perform a conversational bootup

>>>B/1

3.   From the prompt set the UAF file to an alternate

SYSBOOT> set uafalternate 1

SYSBOOT> continue

4.   Now enter anything for the system password

5.   Change UAF to point back to original

$ define/system/exec sysuaf sys$system:sysuaf.dat

6.   Change normal system account password

$ set def sys$system

$ mc authorize

UAF> modify system/pass=xxx/nopwdexpired

UAF> <ctrl-Z>

7.   Now reset the systems UAF to default for reboot

$ mc sysgen

SYSGEN> set uafalternate 0

SYSGEN> write current

SYSGEN> <ctrl-Z>

8. Reboot