should be a simple process, but I have been unable to edit the boot/grub/menu.lst file because I have no idea how to log in as su in the editor program. I've tried to sudo, but my password is rejected (it is correct however). I realize I'm doing something backwards, or forgetting a step....... but then.... I'm a newbie.

system: dual boot, XP & Debian on a PC computer
Debian is default OS, but I'm allowed only 5 seconds to select; would like to change to at least 30 sec.

Use sudo or gksudo on a program, thus:

gksudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

very strange. I can log in as root when using only "su", but doing as you suggested, and as I mentioned earlier ( I think ) using "sudo" does not recognize my password as legitimate.

thanks for trying to help. I was able to figure out a solution. I went to Debian applications; utilities; root terminal; logged in as root; and was able to initiate gedit from there.
I still don't know why I wasn't able to use my root password in "sudo".... because it's my valid root password.... but that's another issue I don't have to worry about right now.

Curious - that suggests that you are not a sudoer. You should look into that.

Did the root terminal work with the root password or your user password?
Anyway - glad to see you worked it out.

You are asked to enter your own user password for sudo not your root password.

If am wrong correct me!

Cheers!

@baig: you are correct - well spotted. With sudo, you do indeed enter your user password, not the root one.

Presumably the root terminal used also asked for a password - and the user password was entered. Usually the root terminal just calls something like

gksudo bash

... only it goes through the gui.

what I did was access Root Terminal and use my root password. I hadn't thought that using my "user" password for sudo was correct. I think I'll try that.

now that's very strange. I tried calling up gedit from terminal console by typing: sudo gedit. I was prompted to enter a password; I used my user password. I was denied access. says that my user name (not password) is not in the sudoers file, and that this incident will be reported. interesting.

Debian does not automatically enable 'sudo' as Ubuntu does. Its not neccessary to use 'sudo'. 'su' is just as fine. But some consider 'sudo' provides better security than 'su' though. To enable 'sudo' in your Debian system,

type your 'root' password and execute
go to line below it, add a line same as the above but instead of 'root' give your username. For eg:Save it with ':qw' (without quotes) and may be have to logout n log back in(?). After this you can use 'sudo' command. But remember you need to enter your 'user' password with 'sudo' and NOT the 'root' password.