Root password problems
 

Ok, i'm new to Ubuntu, tried a few distros and stopped on SuSE 9.3 and Ubuntu (tried Kubuntu also - formatted it and installed ubuntu)

When I was in Kubuntu, I tried running some root-only programs. KDE-su kept saying my pass is wrong , but when I went to console, su, and ran that program from command - it worked. So I thought, what the heck, besides some other issues of KDE in Kubuntu, I can't live like that, so I installed Ubuntu. Much better already, but still the same problem, can't open any root-only programs from the Applications and all other menus, only from command line. I can live with that, but bot the one who I set it up for, so I have to figure this out, or I have to install Windows again (noooo!).

Hint: My password is 14 characters long, I'm gonna try making it shorter, cuz there might be a limit. If anyone knows what's the problem, I'd love to get this over with fast.


Ubuntu rules anyway :P :D

thx,
svinka

I've changed the password, but still no luck :(. I hope somebody will help me, or I'll find the solution soon.


thx,
svinka

Can you use sudo to run these programs?

Well, not anymore I can't :D, I somehow made my account " not in the sudoers file". Guess I have to boot to Knoppix now and undo what I did (I locked up the root account also, prolly did something else as stupid as that :D). BTW, Knoppix 4.0 is really great, anyone who can't wait for official release, I suggest picking up the LinuxTAG 2005 iso torrent. Man they now have everything! Except Krusader :D

Back to the topic, as I said, I will be booting to Knoppix now and changing the passwords from there, then we'll see.


thx,
svinka

Ok, nevermind (atleast for now) After spending 10 or so minutes in Knoppix and chroot'ing my system, I made myself a part of sudoers again, so now my password (password of regular user) works when running these apps. I suppose thats how it was supposed to be, because it asks you not for the "root password", but for "your password". Now I got full control under Ubuntu!


Anybody wanna know how I did it :D ? Nah, you prolly know already...


svinka

you could of just booted to rescue mode which is just runlevel 1

Tried that too, couldn't do anything, had to reboot.

I am having this same problem, but after I realized that it was my password (and not the root's password) the one I have to type, I tried it, and it's like if I clicked on nothing. For instance, I go to "System | Administration | Synaptic Package Manager" and when I clik on it, I am ocasionally asked for my password, but wether I'm asked or not, the application does not show up, and no error messages either. And that happens for everything in the "System | Administration" menu.

Does any one have any idea?

Ok, this is what i did. Boot to knoppix, or any other linux. There are two ways to do the next step: 1) you do chroot to your ubuntu/kubuntu root partition and then use sudoedit command or 2) you just open the file /etc/sudoers (on the ubuntu partition). Now, just add your username with ALL (as in all permissions) at the end and voila! Now you should basically have root privelages (which is not really good by the way).
Well, I wouldn't say this is the solution to the problem - it's just a way to bypass it. If anyone knows how exactly does ubuntu handle all this and what's the correct way to solve this problem, that'd be really helpful.

svinka

Just solved it!

I've just switched to Ubuntu(used Debian beafore) and been having this same problem. I acctually came here for an aswer.. but ended up solving this "mistery"hehe.

export EDITOR=gedit && sudo visudo

# User privilege specification
root ALL=(ALL) ALL

user ALL=(ALL) PASSWD: ALL


just put the "PASSWD" that it will ask for password every time and launch the applications from the system bar(mine didnt launch either). this way is gonna be hard for your cat to srew up your computer(no root previleges for pets).

I just realized it wasnt that simple.. it asked for the password on the first time.. but afterwards its just as if I was root.
I hope that helped someone.

now its working.. i rebooted the system after writing that ("ALL=(ALL) PASSWD: ALL") down. i actually think thres isnt even such thing as PASSWD because i dont know how to program and didnt bother to look for that. but in my pc it only prompts for the password this way, probably by some sort of error caused by the bad script.

i thoght it didnt work on the second messege becaus wehn you have a "root permission program" open and try to open another one i doesnt prompts for the password. after you close all admin programs and try to open another one it will ask for your user password and its gonna open the program afterwords. i think it was suposed to be this way with only - user ALL=(ALL) ALL - but it looks like its not just for me that it doesnt work.

i suggest you try the bugged sudo(its not gonna be dangerous) because it may accually work for you guys too.

im really curious to see if thats really the thing.
by to all