Password issues

WTGD · 12-12-2015, 12:03 AM

Hi I am trying to log into super user on 2 different distros and both I am having the same issue. I need SU to set up my von but when Im promted to type the p/w it won't let me type anything. Also on mint it asks for a password when I never even set one up. Thanks.

jdkaye · 12-12-2015, 12:57 AM

If you are typing this on a terminal then you won't see anything that you type when prompted for a password. Your password is being registered but is not shown for security reasons. The dialogue will look like this:

Code:

jdkaye@AttilaII:~$ su
Password: 
root@AttilaII:/home/jdkaye#

jdk

Ztcoracat · 12-12-2015, 01:10 AM

What is the distro that you tried 'su' on?

If your typing su in the terminal and than it prompts you to type in your password the characters will not show up as your typing it in. This is normal.

If you didn't set a password up on Linux Mint during your installation than it could be very difficult to get into the operating system.
Furthermore; it isn't good to run a distro as root only.

Without a root password I don't see how you will be able to initiate and run administrative tasks for your distribution.

http://sharadchhetri.com/2014/06/26/...an-linux-mint/
http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/339

ondoho · 12-12-2015, 03:01 AM

it is indeed not recommended to daily use a system with the root user, but i take it you are trying to set up something? what?
it is not possible to install a linux distro without providing a user (not root) password - have you actually installed, or are you using the live session straight from usb?
the root account might not be set up; you can circumvent that by using "sudo su" - this will prompt for your user password.

erik2282 · 12-13-2015, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdkaye

If you are typing this on a terminal then you won't see anything that you type when prompted for a password. Your password is being registered but is not shown for security reasons. The dialogue will look like this:

Code:

jdkaye@AttilaII:~$ su
Password: 
root@AttilaII:/home/jdkaye#

+1 ...

273 · 12-13-2015, 10:49 AM

On Mint and other Ubuntu based distributions you run things as super user by using sudo and enter the password of the user you are logged in as (assuming it was the one you created during install, otherwise let us know). Regardless of which distribution you use su will ask for the root password so if it's not set (it isn't in Ubuntu or Mint) you can't use su un its own but must do something like "sudo su" or "sudo su -".
You should tell us which distribution[s] you are using an link to any tutorial you are following and people will then be able to "translate" the instructions if necessary.