When trying to set up a printer, a window opened stating that KDE Wallet needed to start and required a password. I have put no passwords into my system. This did not happen when I logged in as root. What is KDE Wallet? What password does it want? Where do I set or change this password so that I can actually access it?
Also - Is there a way to change from user to root without logging out of the session and starting a new session?

Hi RRA,

The KWallet is a new KDE feature that can store passwords, logons, credit card details, etc., as an encrypted file so that you don't have to retype this information everytime you logon/buy something from your favourite site.

The password does not set itself: the first time you run KDE 3.2 and put a username or password (etc.) into Konqueror, Kwallet launches a wizard that explains what the program is, how it works, etc. From this Wizard you can either choose to disable the Kwallet features (ie, it wont remember these details) or enable the feature, in which case you're prompted to provide a password for the encrypted file.

As far as I know, you can't reset this password without first knowing the original password. Kwallet is designed to manage sensative data you enter in over your webbrowser, and therefore security is (understandably) tight.

In response to your last question: to run a program as root under your normal account, open a konsole or terminal window, and type "su". It will then ask you to enter your root password, and then your konsole session will be logged in as root. Any programs you call from the console will also run as root.

An easier way yet is to create a shortcut for the program you want to run on your KDE desktop. Then right click on the shortcut and choose "Properties". Click the "application" tab and check the "Run as Different User" option. Type "root" in the username field, and "OK" this dialogue. Now, when you open that shortcut, you will be promtped for the root password and the program will execute with root privlidges.

Cheers,
Tim

Well, KDE Wallet does not accept the password that I am sure that I entered when it first ran - there must be someway to change this - perhaps as root?

Hi RRA,

Sorry, I've never had the need to remove or switch of the Kwallet feature (I find it quite useful), so I don't really know how to remove it or reset the password.

Here's a few ideas -- again, I've not tested them, so I don't know if they work. Use at your own risk

1) Go to /home/user (user being your account name, obviously.) Navigate to the /.kde/share/config/ directory and look for a file named "kwalletrc". Open it with kwrite or kedit or such. Change the line that reads "Enabled=true" to "Enabled=false". I'm gussing that should turn off Kwallet.

2) If you're really fed up with Kwallet, deleting /.kde/share/apps/kwallet/ from your home directly should remove the password and any information associated with the application. Next time Kwallet pops up, I imagine that it'll be restored to its original state and you can tell the wizard that you don't want to use Kwallet in the future. The kwallet feature will then be disabled.

The above two points are just educated guesses. Feel free to try it out, but use at your own risk.

Please, anyone correct me if my assumptions are wrong.

Cheers,
Tim

KDE wallet is a scurge upon the living, i just ignore it for the most part, though yes it is quite usefull (there is a contradiction there, i know)

personally if you use it for konqueror and web pages i don't think there is any point. It's new and not that grand, i'm sure it will mature nicely though ... KDE i like lots

moving along. what hoopyfrood says , sounds right ... though you can just open up the program and disable it from there

destroying the hidden directory won't resolve the problem though, i'm guessing it'd start from scratch. But that would also be beneficial.

I thought KWallet was cool until I opened it up and found that it would display the passwords -- in plain text! Is it just me, or is that totally outrageous?

hey hoopyfrood, i just tried your first assumption, and so far it has worked, i tried to logon to kopete and the kwallet did not appear

simple - just delete or rename the file ./kde/share/apps/kwallet/kdewallet.kwl in your home directory

a cd ~ should take to your home directory