Originally Posted by xenopeek

Let's not make this topic about whether or not you should log in as root. Indeed Ubuntu comes with a disabled root account, but as I shared Linux Mint enables it again so you can run a root terminal. As a sensible default for a distro suitable also for users new to Linux, root login is disabled for the graphical desktop. Its easily enabled through the Login Window application for users that need it. See the attachment.

Yes, I thought that might be the case you have an earlier version than 13.

As for the realtec chip for wireless; that depends on which chipset exactly you have. I couldn't find chipset specifications on the HP website or elsewhere...

Originally Posted by 273

It's a recent thing (last 5 years or so) to not allow X login as root I think. Ubuntu started with the disabling of root altogether, I think, and since Mint was based upon it they seemed to be that way too (unless my memory is playing tricks on me).
Personally I only every log in as root in the terminal, and usually because something is broken. Otherwise I've not real need to as a root terminal suffices.