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Old 02-19-2007, 02:15 AM   #1
riscbroker
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Unable to add user in Ubuntu


I have installed Ubuntu (Hedgehog) and wish to add a user. When prompted for the password, I enter my root password and get
'failed to run users-admin. Child terminated with 1 status'.
The same occurs if I try to alter system clock or perform any other function requiring root privilege. If I enter 'su' from a terminal session the system accepts the root password that I enter. Do I need to re-install?
 
Old 02-19-2007, 02:57 AM   #2
Simon Bridge
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Ubuntu dosn't have a root user. You enter your user password.

What the gui is doing is running sudo - only the first created user gets sudo access by default.

You should upgrade and read through:
http://easylinux.info/wiki/Ubuntu:Edgy
(Hoary Hedghog is pretty old now - support has gone.)

Also note: you have posted this in the MEPIS forum.
 
Old 02-19-2007, 02:58 AM   #3
XavierP
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Moved: This thread is more suitable in Ubuntu and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.
 
Old 02-19-2007, 03:52 AM   #4
riscbroker
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Thanks Simon. Soory about posting in the wrong forum - I had Mepis installed and this was my default page....

I have tried my user password from the GUI, the system does absolutely nothing with it.
 
Old 02-19-2007, 05:01 AM   #5
Simon Bridge
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That's how it works for me.
system > admin > users (enter user password) and I'm in.

Try using sudo from the terminal.

Have you ever been able to mess with admin stuff?

Last edited by Simon Bridge; 02-19-2007 at 05:06 AM.
 
Old 02-19-2007, 06:32 AM   #6
riscbroker
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I've only recently installed Ubuntu, having had the disks for quite a while. I am unable to perform any admin tasks. I do: system > admin > users (enter user password) or any other command that will require root privilege, and the system accepts it and goes nowhere with it. The system does however accept my root password from 'su' in a terminal session....
 
Old 02-20-2007, 02:58 AM   #7
Simon Bridge
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Yeah - I've been playing around in my system and discover that there is a root user with a root password somehow. I've never had one before.

However - have you tried sudo from the terminal? Say:

$ sudo apt-get update

You recall, the gui doesn't use su -c to execute admin functions. It uses sudo. Being able to use su means nothing to the gui.

Last edited by Simon Bridge; 02-20-2007 at 03:00 AM.
 
Old 02-22-2007, 05:39 AM   #8
riscbroker
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Thanks Simon, I tried everything, but to no avail. Re-installed last night and can now access all the admin functions with user password. I guess something went wrong during the initial install, the interesting thing is that I was initially required to create and confirm a root password during the install (I elected to go for an expert install since I had an existing Windows partition and one other partition). When I re-installed last night there was no requirement for me to create a root password........
 
Old 02-22-2007, 05:18 PM   #9
Simon Bridge
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Oh what a shame - you probably just needed to add yourself to the admin group or edit /etc/sudoers to include you.
 
  


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