Can somebody tell me how to enable the root login, under GUI, in the newest Madriva? I found some entries in the LQ forums but everyone seems to be obsessed with telling evryone else how bad it is to log in as root and how dangerous it is and how highly not-recommended it is.
Please, don't tell me that..
I see the need for root login if, for example, I forget the user's password. then what? I run my system on HIGH security level so that no one can mess with my files.
The login screen doesn't show ANY ID's. It's important for me that I would access the system from an administrator's level.
Please, tell me where the configuration files are and what to change there, to get the root access. Thanks.

It's a two step process, assuming you are running kde on mdv 2008:

1. Open the Control Center(Start Menu > Tools > System Tools > Control Center). In Control Center, go to System Administration > Login Manager. In the Login Manager go to the "Users" tab. Hit the "Administrator Mode" button on the bottom and enter the root password when prompted. In the "Hidden Users" panel, remove the check mark from the entry for root. Close the Control Center.

2. You have to also edit /etc/kde/kdm/kdmrc, but you must be root to do that. Open a console and run:

$ kdesu kwrite /etc/kde/kdm/kdmrc

Enter the root password when prompted. The kwrite text editor will come up with root privileges and display the kdmrc file. Go down to the line that reads:

AllowRootLogin=false

and change that line to:

AllowRootLogin=true

Save the changes and close kwrite.

Logout. Try logging in as root from the login screen; it should work.

thank you. it worked perfectly. I appreciate your help.

FYI:
Usually, there are one or more consoles available that can be accessed by pressing <ctrl><alt><Fx> (x = 1..6).
Switch to one of those consoles while in the graphical environment and login as root.
Run the command passwd the_name_of_the_user_who_has_forgotten_the_password.
Once you've changed the password, logout and press <ctrl><alt><F7> to return to the graphical environment.

At the moment you are running the GUI as root, you don't run your system on high security level anymore. That is, any applcation can do anything, because everything which is executed is executed with root credentials. I don't need to tell you not to log in as root. One day you'll notice.

In addition to what Wim Sturkenboom said, you can start any single application application by pressing ALT-F2 and then press "Advanced" or "Options" and change your credentials.

Last but not least, logging out as user in the GUI, and then log in as administrator to do an administrative task is the Windows way. Very awkward and time consuming. *nux was designed to offer you the best tool to do your work, and hence offer alternative, safer and faster ways to accomplish what you need.

jlinkels