Hello, I'm currently running a Debian type linux installation, the one that coems off from the Knoppix Live CD, I have a huge problem, this version feels so dumbed down, it logs me into as first, without a bash promt an' the ol' "startx" deal, I cannot switch users in X, an' I need to switch to root to write to my hard drive, otherwise I have a complete inability to save to my hard drives, this is SEVERLY debilitating . I also have another problem, I attempted to use a program installer, the link is here http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/a...4.run?download for a program, I attempt to install, but it asks me for root password, I have a root password, but it consitently tells me it's incorrect, yet that's what Ican do administartor tasks as, please please pelase, repsond right awya, I need to get this thing fully functional in a few days, I;'m a cllege student.. Basically I need to udnerstand why I cannot switch users, someone told me to paste my Fstab dircetory, so I reckon I'll do that to help anyone willing to help me.

# /etc/fstab: filesystem table.
#
# filesystem mountpoint type options dump pass
/dev/hda1 / ext3 defaults,errors=remount-ro 0 1

proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
/dev/fd0 /floppy vfat defaults,user,noauto,showexec,umask=022 0 0
usbdevfs /proc/bus/usb usbdevfs defaults 0 0
sysfs /sys sysfs defaults 0 0
/dev/cdrom /cdrom iso9660 defaults,ro,user,noexec,noauto 0 0
/dev/dvd /dvd iso9660 defaults,ro,user,noexec,noauto 0 0
/dev/cdaudio /cdaudio iso9660 defaults,ro,user,noexec,noauto 0 0
# Added by KNOPPIX
/dev/hda2 none swap defaults 0 0
# Added by KNOPPIX
/dev/hda3 /mnt/hda3 ntfs noauto,users,exec,ro,umask=000,uid=knoppix,gid=knoppix 0 0
# Added by KNOPPIX
/dev/hda4 /mnt/hda4 ext2 noauto,users,exec 0 0

anyone who can help me log into root would be a great help, also if anyone could help me get the option to actually switch users that'd be great!

i dont know which disk you are trying to write to but reason you cant write to your disk is because its being mounted read only:

# Added by KNOPPIX
/dev/hda3 /mnt/hda3 ntfs noauto,users,exec,->ro<-,umask=000,uid=knoppix,gid=knoppix 0 0

change it to:

# Added by KNOPPIX
/dev/hda3 /mnt/hda3 ntfs noauto,users,exec,rw,umask=000,uid=knoppix,gid=knoppix 0 0

well, that was pointless, I attempted to make the changes...however I'm denied access..like I am everywhere....literally everywhere...I don' understand, it's like nothing works, I'm kinda upset about it . I cannot save, I cannot install, I have no permissions, I need to login as room, I THINK i st a root password, but I'm not terribly sure anymore, because sometiems it woriks, sometiesm it does not, I am sooo lost, please, this is terrible

you have a installation disk dont you? why dont you plug that in and then mount your harddrive that way? that way you can alter you files to however you need.