[SOLVED] sudo su: wrong password try again

greed109 · 12-21-2011, 01:01 PM

Hello.

Running Debian squeeze. The problem is that when I am in terminal using this command: sudo -i; always receiving a message: " Sorry, try again".
When in terminal trying: sudo apt-get update, message printed: Sorry, try again.
What am I doing wrong and how do I fix it?

Thank you!

snowday · 12-21-2011, 01:11 PM

Hi there!

First of all, who told you to use "sudo su"? That's kind of a weird command, I don't use it personally.

If you want a root shell (looks to me like what you're trying to do) then either type su and enter your root password, or sudo -i and type your user password. (Assuming that "sudo" is installed and correctly configured.)

greed109 · 12-21-2011, 01:16 PM

What I am doing is trying to install program under terminal. SU command lets me in, but if im trying to continue with installation it tells me again, you have to be root blablabla. sudo -i, same problem, Sorry,try again.

snowday · 12-21-2011, 01:26 PM

What is the name of "program" and where did you get it?

greed109 · 12-21-2011, 01:36 PM

Hey, thank you for your help. I got it of the Internet, some torrent web site, and i know it is compatible with my system. Any ideas on what could be the problem?

snowday · 12-21-2011, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greed109

Hey, thank you for your help. I got it of the Internet, some torrent web site, and i know it is compatible with my system. Any ideas on what could be the problem?

No, I am not going to help you with secret mystery software from some torrent site, sorry.

Supported applications are easy to install from the trustworthy Debian Repositories with a few clicks of the mouse or terminal commands. I recommend you read the Debian Reference Guide: http://www.debian.org/doc/user-manuals#quick-reference with particular attention to Chapter 2: Debian package management

greed109 · 12-21-2011, 02:07 PM

snowpine, thank you for your attempt to help me. I dont see anything wrong with using torrents, when even Linux distros are downloaded that way. Lets leave what I am trying to install aside and move with this problem. When in terminal trying: sudo apt-get update, message printed: Sorry, try again.

There is a problem with authentication.
Thank you in advance.

snowday · 12-21-2011, 02:12 PM

Type:

Code:

su

Press Enter

Type your root password (it will not display on the screen)

Press Enter

Type:

Code:

apt-get update

Press Enter

If that doesn't work then please copy & paste the output using CODE tags for legibility.

When you are done working as root type:

Code:

exit

to return to your normal user privileges.

See here for help configuring sudo: http://wiki.debian.org/sudo

greed109 · 12-21-2011, 02:15 PM

ok, that worked. But, why then i cannot do the other way around, like i said: sudo apt-get update?

snowday · 12-21-2011, 02:18 PM

Probably because you have not properly configured sudo. The link in my post above will help you. The most common mistake would be not adding your user to the sudo group.

repo · 12-21-2011, 02:19 PM

For sudo you are using the users password, right?

Kind regards

greed109 · 12-21-2011, 02:22 PM

snowpine, thank you, I am checking it right now. repo, when sudo apt-get update, using root password. If I am entering user password get this message: username is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.

snowday · 12-21-2011, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greed109

snowpine, thank you, I am checking it right now. repo, when sudo apt-get update, using root password. If I am entering user password get this message: username is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.

As suspected, you have not properly configured sudo for your user.
Since you have a working solution (post #8) I will let you read the sudo documentation on your own time. Good luck!

greed109 · 12-21-2011, 03:00 PM

Thank you, ALL, fixed. In terminal sudo -c visudo , and from there under root name desired user must be added copying all the specs from root.
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Thank you, snowpine.
Going to stick to this forum