Log In as Admin (Mandrake 10)
 

OK, I am getting really P.O'd how the hell do I log in as a root administrator on Mandrake Linux 10.0?

I set up ROOT ADMIN with a password (during install) but there is no option to log in as root admin and typing admin in the login box doesn't seem to work.\

I am a :newbie:

I am not sure about mandrake, but it might not allow you to login as root in it's default setup. If you want root power, then open up a terminal window:
type su -
enter
type root password
enter

You will now have roots power. You should be running as root only when you have to do some admin work. All other times should be as a normal user. Think security.

mandrakes default is to not offer graphical login to the root user.

You'll have to log in as user, then open the kde control centre (configure my desktop), click on system, then login manager.

The window has a "administrator mode" button at the bottom. Click that, it should then ask you for your root password.

Once it's "fired up" in admin mode, you click the users tab, and you need to uncheck the box that makes certain account's hidden (it's usually root and "nobody"). You can change the icon for root there as well.

then apply any changes you make, and on reboot, you should be offered both root and user as graphical login options.

apart from that, Twili's suggestion is the best idea - the security thing is a good comment.

regards

John

p.s. obviously, this is dependant on you using the default kde window manager. if you use gnome, I can't help/don't know. I also use kde and this is what I had to do to change things.

Yes, that's the usual approach. If I have to use some of the ui programs with root privileges, I start them up from the console - as root.