Ubuntu won't let me log on as root
in [UK Linux]
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From: unruh on 18 Jun 2010 10:54 On 2010-06-18, Dave W <davewi11(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > All the magazines tell me how easy Linux can be for beginners like me, > but I cannot even begin. I want to install Linux on a partition on my > laptop (HP N1412), but the only distribution I can find that satisfies > the two requirements of (1) having my Intel830 screen driver, and (2) > installable from a CD not DVD, is Ubuntu 9.04. > > I can log on as user, but it won't let me log on as root, and won't > let me install any new programs. The machine is not connected to the Yes, ubuntu is silly that way. You are supposed to use sudo. Put the work sudo in from onf every root command you want to use. Exactly how this helps security is a bit obscure to me, but that is their decision. > internet and will only be used by me, so the less logging in the > better. I can log in as root by booting into rescue mode, but that > goes to command line only. I can then edit any of the millions of > files at will, but can anyone tell me which ones to let me install new > programs? > > Dave W
From: unruh on 18 Jun 2010 10:56 On 2010-06-18, chris <ithinkiam(a)gmail.com> wrote: > On 18/06/10 12:42, Dave W wrote: >> All the magazines tell me how easy Linux can be for beginners like me, >> but I cannot even begin. I want to install Linux on a partition on my >> laptop (HP N1412), but the only distribution I can find that satisfies >> the two requirements of (1) having my Intel830 screen driver, and (2) >> installable from a CD not DVD, is Ubuntu 9.04. >> >> I can log on as user, but it won't let me log on as root, > > In linux, you don't login as root. You login as a normal user and then > provide additional authentication when you want to do system-wide stuff. Ubuntu will not let you log in as root in any way whatsoever. > > Logging in as the administrator/root by default is what caused windows > problems (amongst other things). > >> and won't >> let me install any new programs. The machine is not connected to the >> internet and will only be used by me, so the less logging in the >> better. > > I'm not sure how you intent to install stuff if you're not on the > internet? The majority of linux software is installed via their online > repositories. For example from a DV D. You cannot install a program from the dvd without being root either.
From: chris on 18 Jun 2010 12:24 On 18/06/10 15:56, unruh wrote: > On 2010-06-18, chris<ithinkiam(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> On 18/06/10 12:42, Dave W wrote: >>> All the magazines tell me how easy Linux can be for beginners like me, >>> but I cannot even begin. I want to install Linux on a partition on my >>> laptop (HP N1412), but the only distribution I can find that satisfies >>> the two requirements of (1) having my Intel830 screen driver, and (2) >>> installable from a CD not DVD, is Ubuntu 9.04. >>> >>> I can log on as user, but it won't let me log on as root, >> >> In linux, you don't login as root. You login as a normal user and then >> provide additional authentication when you want to do system-wide stuff. > > Ubuntu will not let you log in as root in any way whatsoever. Not by default, but it needn't remain that way. > >> >> Logging in as the administrator/root by default is what caused windows >> problems (amongst other things). >> >>> and won't >>> let me install any new programs. The machine is not connected to the >>> internet and will only be used by me, so the less logging in the >>> better. >> >> I'm not sure how you intent to install stuff if you're not on the >> internet? The majority of linux software is installed via their online >> repositories. > > For example from a DV D. You cannot install a program from the dvd > without being root either. Except the OP said he didn't want a DVD.
From: Ian on 18 Jun 2010 14:05 On 18 June, 15:56, unruh <un...(a)wormhole.physics.ubc.ca> wrote: > Ubuntu will not let you log in as root in any way whatsoever. 'Course it will. it just sets the password to something random and doesn't tell you it. sudo passwd root to set it to something you do know and you can log in as root to your heart's content. For an even quicker fix, sudo su. Ian
From: Richard Kettlewell on 18 Jun 2010 15:57
Ian <ian.groups(a)btinternet.com> writes: > unruh <un...(a)wormhole.physics.ubc.ca> wrote: >> Ubuntu will not let you log in as root in any way whatsoever. > > 'Course it will. it just sets the password to something random and > doesn't tell you it. No random passwords are involved. chymax$ ssh lancilark Warning: No xauth data; using fake authentication data for X11 forwarding. Linux lancilark 2.6.32-22-server #36-Ubuntu SMP Thu Jun 3 20:38:33 UTC 2010 x86_64 GNU/Linux Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Welcome to the Ubuntu Server! * Documentation: http://www.ubuntu.com/server/doc Last login: Fri Jun 18 20:54:46 2010 from chymax.anjou.terraraq.org.uk richard(a)lancilark:~$ sudo head -1 /etc/shadow root:*:14731:0:99999:7::: -- http://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/ |