pam_chauthtok(): error in service module

[KenJackson]

I installed FreeBSD 7.0 and rebooted.
When I was prompted, I typed in the root password I had entered during installation.
It said it was the wrong password. I retried carefully.

I rebooted in single user mode and used the passwd command.
It prompted me for a password and to retype it, but then it gave me this error:

passwd: pam_chauthtok(): error in service module

What the heck does that mean? How can I set the root password if passwd doesn't work? Can I hand edit /etc/master.passwd and enter an encrypted password from another system? Does everyone have this problem?

[anomie]

FWIW, that is a documented error in pam_chauthtok(3). As for why you'd be getting it following an installation, I could not say. (You have not made any pam configuration changes post-install, right?)

Generic suggestions: check the sha256 sum against your ISO and/or burn again; run fsck on your hard drive using a live cd (or drive diagnostic from your drive manufacturer); install again...