how do i activate root?

constancebwn · 08-22-2009, 11:22 PM

I was told to login using my root, but from where i am at i can't open gedit and allow my root to be used. if that makes any since.

jstephens84 · 08-22-2009, 11:30 PM

What distro are you using? and what are you trying to use root for? If you are trying from say xterm or anyother terminal it would be

Code:

su -

then put in roots password.

If you are using Ubuntu then you would just use sudo instead.

constancebwn · 08-22-2009, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jstephens84

What distro are you using? and what are you trying to use root for? If you are trying from say xterm or anyother terminal it would be

Code:

su -

then put in roots password.

If you are using Ubuntu then you would just use sudo instead.

something went wrong with my login, saying that my seccion lasted only 10 secounds and that something was installed wrong. but it won't let me log into my name, or my root? what do i need to do about fixing this without loosing everything on my computer by re-installing ubuntu?

rm -rf * · 08-22-2009, 11:43 PM

You would want to switch to a virtual terminal and fix it from the command line, ctrl+alt F2 to get to a terminal, log in fix whatever error occured, then reboot, or restart xorg.

constancebwn · 08-22-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rm -rf *

You would want to switch to a virtual terminal and fix it from the command line, ctrl+alt F2 to get to a terminal, log in fix whatever error occured, then reboot, or restart xorg.

how do i know what error to correct? or where to even start... ugg.... i wish i hadn't even tried to update the stupid thing, this never would have happened.

paulsm4 · 08-22-2009, 11:49 PM

It isn't clear exactly what the problem is, or what you need to do about it. Please do the following:

Quote:

1. Log in to a text session:
Hold down the <Ctl-Alt-F2> keys. This should give you a text-mode login.

2. Log in as your normal username (*not* root).

3. Try typing "su - root". See if this works.
If not, please:

4. Write down the exact error message, and try typing: "sudo".
If this doesn't work either, please write down the exact error message.

5. Try to remember the exact error message you were getting in the first place.

6. Post back here to LQ

rm -rf * · 08-22-2009, 11:50 PM

I'd assume since gnome is crashing

Code:

cat /var/logs/Xorg.0.log |grep EE

constancebwn · 08-22-2009, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulsm4

It isn't clear exactly what the problem is, or what you need to do about it. Please do the following:

okay this is what the error message says when i boot up the computer. it comes up to my login screen an says
" your session only lasted more then 10 secounds. if you have not logged out, this could mean that there is some installation pronblem or that you may be out of diskspace. try logging in with one of the failsafe scessions to see it you can fix this problem"

rm -rf * · 08-23-2009, 12:01 AM

Well to eliminate one possibility you can log in via a virtual terminal right? If so

Code:

df -Th

To check disk space. Then I would look through the xorg log to check for errors.

paulsm4 · 08-23-2009, 01:04 AM

Ah - things are becoming a bit clearer.

Your *Linux* is probably OK ... but there seems to be something wrong with X Windows and/or your desktop.

Possibly permissions, possibly configuration.

Please look here:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...nds...-386010/

Please post back your exact version of Ubuntu, and any other details. For example:

Quote:

df -Th
<= Are any filesystems nearing 100% full (probably not)

Quote:

cat /var/logs/Xorg.0.log |grep EE|less
<= What are the first few errors X Windows is giving you (if any)?

Quote:

chmod 1777 /tmp
<= Do this as "root" from your terminal session, and try restarting Ubuntu again

WillingToLikeLinux · 08-23-2009, 01:28 AM

Here's something curious to think about: how do you log off from the terminal after puting su - and your password?

chrism01 · 08-23-2009, 08:06 PM

The logout cmd is

exit

too easy

windtalker10 · 08-23-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillingToLikeLinux

Here's something curious to think about: how do you log off from the terminal after puting su - and your password?

1.] exit - as was already stated

or

2.] reboot [if you're root]

or

3.] halt [if you're root]