How to reset root passwd FreeBSdD4.7

[Rick Preston]

On 7/13/05, Frank Steinborn <steinex at arcor.de> wrote:
> Amandeep <aman at chamkila.org> schrieb:
> > Hi all,
> >
> > Is there a way to reset the root passwd without reinstalling FreeBSD 4.7.
> >
> > Thanks in advance
> 
> Hi,
> 
> from the loader prompt, boot FreeBSD in single-user mode using "boot
> -s", then do passwd root.
> 
> Greetings,
> steini

I was going to offer something more complicated, thanks for the tip. 
I came to realize that both our ideas require shutting down the
system.  What would be the safest way to do that with out causing
potential damage to the system, without root access?

Thanks,
Rick