I'm was trying to download steam on Kali Linux before I switched to Linux pop os and it wouldn't let me download it. I searched around on the internet for an answer as to why it wasn't working and someone told me to download the gcc-8-base. I did that and then restarted my computer and now I can't login. I can't even login to root. Any help?

Welcome to LQ.

Just to advise since Kali (as you know) is a specialized distribution, there are not many people who have user based recommendations for desktop applications under that distribution.

I have just about zero idea about the recommendation to download gcc-8-base, and further do not understand your comment about switching to pop. Are you saying that you were trying to use a different distribution of Linux or a different OS?

I'd say first why don't you share more details about what you did to download gcc-8-base and what you also did there. Because obviously downloading a file does nothing. You must have then tried to unzip, and install, or if you downloaded a package, you must have tried to install? What were your next actions after downloading? Or instead, was it really that you downloaded the file, and rebooted, and now you can't fully boot?

When you say you can't login. Is this literally that you do know your password, but it's not allowing you to login successfully? Or is it not booting enough that you can't even log in? Kali typically only has root, so also you'll need to overview how you've added a user, or how you got that configuration to work?

Once again, can't stress enough that I feel, and historically supported if you search our forums, there are not many here who can help you much with Kali. Perhaps see if a different distribution would be more suitable for you, for when you wish to use steam. Also suggest you search and ask some questions on Kali's own forums.

@rtmistler, I do understand the confusion and I'm sorry to have, essentially, wasted your time but I have decided to just switch to pop os, I already have everything I needed from my computer I just need to switch now. I cannot tell you how I downloaded the file. I'm positive I just did
$sudo apt update
$sudo apt install gcc-8-base
The information that you asked for is on the actual computer that I'm having problems with and I cannot access them because of these problems. When I said "Linux pop is", I made a typo, I meant to say Ubuntu pop is, so yes I am switching to a different os, pretty much. I plan on deleting everything from the computer that I have not already extracted from it and installing a different os. That being said, thank you very much for the help. Have a good day.

It's not a problem, nor any waste of time. We (all members) are here to collaborate and help, when help can be given.

Seems as if your original question will not be needed to explored any further.

If you have any further questions as you proceed with your new OS, please create a new thread.

Best of luck!