i installed 10.1
i gave it a root password and then created a user also. Now the problem is that whenever i login i do not have the root privilages...... so to run the commands that i want ..... i have to come down to init 3 level and then do the commands....

i tried to give myself root privilages by adding myself to the GROUP : root but that didnt help.

Anyone who can help ??
(i am ready to install again)

You should use su to gain root privileges or use sudo - just run man sudo to find out how to do it.

By default, for security reasons Mandrake does not add enable root login via x. You can use Mandrake Control Center to enable but instead open up a console window and use the su - command. It is the same thing as dropping to level 3 and logging in as root. IMHO it is bad practice to give root privileges to a regular user.

i ahd the same problem, but as there above was said, never use root witouth reason, su is the best alternative...

thx guys

one problem.........
when i start the terminal or things like 'configure your computer' it asks for the root password.
when i use su my promp changes from :
xyz@localhost $
to
root@localhost #
but is there some way by which whenever i autologin i am the root
( i do not have any security concerns as i use this laptop at home)

any suggestions ??

if your talking about the login screen before you go into KDE there are setting in KDE to make sure ROOT will show up all the time @ login.

and how is that....... could you please tell me more about it .... ????

If I understand you correctly, you're wanting to log in as root and operate your (home, laptop) system as root.

It is too dangerous! I don't think there's a single experienced user here (I don't qualify as all that experienced, after
only two years of basically head-scratching but some successes, but there are real gurus around) who would advocate
operating as root.

At least if you use su in a terminal, or use sudo, it's a reminder of the power you've just TEMPORARILY assumed.
You're less apt to make some drastic mistake.

Linux is not forgiving, and once things are wiped out--they're wiped out.

I would plead with you not to log in as root except in those times, maybe once or twice a year, when it's really
the easiest way to solve some otherwise tricky problem. It's almost NEVER necessary. And it can be fatal.

If you want to execute a single kde program as root, you can use the 'kdesu' command to start it.

Another way is to drag the icon from the menu to the task bar, right clicking and selecting configure, and selecting 'execute as user' and entering root. You can have a kwrite icon on the task bar then and when you want to edit a configuration file, just click on the icon and enter the root password.

Let me add to this. The secuity you get from NOT being root is not just from outside attacks. It is from your own fingers. You make a mistake as root and bang! bye bye linux.

Unlike Windows, you don't need to be root to use the computer effectively. You can even install some programs using your home directory. When you need to be root then:

1. Open a terminal and type su. You will be asked for the root password. or
2. Assuming you're using X, press Ctrl-Alt-F1 (0r F2 or F3...) and log in as root there. Press Ctrl-Alt-F7 to get back to X or
3. If there is a program you often run that needs you to be root (for example "Configure your Computer" and you are not prompted for the root password then edit the menu entry by putting

kdesu -c

in front of the command (assuming you're running KDE. No doubt Gnome has something similar.

[no doubt gnome has something similar]: correct, 'gksu'.