Debian won't let me log in as root...

How do I launch the file browser as root? I can su in the console window but having to do everything via cli is starting to get tedious.

At the minute the restrictions imposed on my current user are stopping me from doing anything

I want to be able to delete stuff through the file browser without being told I don't have permission. If I delete something I shouldn't have it's my own stupid fault - its a single user machine so there's no one else to worry about.

Look for "FileManager - SuperUser mode" under , system - filesystem - other in the K menu. Not sure where it is in Gnome as I don't use it.

I'm using gnome, thanks for the quick reply though.

From terminal do:
su -c "nautilus"

Or create a desktop launcher with the command: "gksu -u root nautilus"
Dbl-Clicking it will prompt you for root password and than launch the file manager.

Having said that, I think you should really get used to using cli when ever something needs to be done as root. This creates a good separation between the user and root modes...you'll never forget "who you are" at any given moment

another way would be using midnight-commander, something "inbetween" cli and "real" gui.

apt-get install mc

then in terminal type as root "mc" and you can easily delete files/dirctories/whatever.
but be careful...

Nonsense, give nautilus the suid bit and have the real fun like in windows.

Logging in and running programs as root would be most unwise. It's better to use "su" or "sudo" or "gksu" or something similar that gives you only temporary root privileges. Also, it would be smart to make backups before editing or deleting important system files.

Some users may think that always logging in as root makes running Linux easier but actually it creates many problems because GNU/Linux is not meant to be used that way. Also solving such problems can be extremely difficult. Personally I hold the sinister view that users who create their own problems by constantly misusing the root account -- be the reason ignorance, carelessness or laziness -- are beyond anyone's help.

I agree with DeadParrot - running as root should only be done in specific, limited situations (such as installing new software) but otherwise you should run as a regular user. If you are getting error messages due to permissions issues, my recommendation would be to take a few minutes to determine why the message is being generated rather than to do a brute force override. To say it another way, Linux doesn't throw error messages just for the heck of it, instead, there's some valid reason for it, and it would be worthwhile to determine what that reason is. Naturally, it's your system and you can use it whatever way you wish, however, I would suggest that it would be time well spent to deal with the cause rather than just the symptom. Good luck with it either way -- J.W.

I never log as root and nearly never use the suid bit (except for reboot and poweroff) and only use su when really necessary, but I agree with lazymanc when he says "If I delete something I shouldn't have it's my own stupid fault".

Who am I for saying people what they should or shouldn't do? I like Linux because it allows me to do everything I want to do, if I want to disable cd autolaunch I can do it (I continue waiting for someone telling me how this can really be done in windows xp because if you tell him "don't do anything when I insert a cd" it continues reading it trying to know it's contents and with a bad cd reader it's a nightmare) and if I want to use a window manager other than kde or gnome I can do it and if I want to be able to manage my files with complete freedom I can do it, so give nautilus the suid bit and do all you want to do.

Maybe one day he'll damage his information and will understand why such things should'n be done or maybe not, but nobody will die in the try.

Ya know xukosky, I only came across this post through aKregator and I am appreciative of your humor. You're right, we can do anything in Linux and that includes break things. I've only been at this for 6 months and I have broken so many things, which is how I have learned the most.

Finally, I have learned to do everything as user unless it's a systemwide change. In those cases I have grown to love Midnight Commander. Anyway, I'm just wasting time.

I enjoyed your post.

Thank you Yotamk and Dabang for your comments!

Yotamk, you said: and Dabang, you said: I was so frustrated with Debian 8.6 that I was thinking of going back to Windows after 15 years!! Another option was to keep access to old MEPIS which has root File Managers available. Debian 8.6 has removed access to any root File Managers, and it won't let me log in as root. I understand it is under the pretext that these options are DANGEROUS! But I also remember that years ago I read the warning that just an erroneous dot (.) or whatever at the command line could break your system! I felt that my freedom was being taken away.

So when I saw your suggestions this morning, I was skeptical because I noted that this discussion took place back in 2005, probably before Debian had any thoughts of blocking root usage in FM's. I was also surprised because I had tried the simple option of "su". But Low and Behold they worked! So I decided to register with Linux Questions and thank you. Thank you very much!
mr.Lauren