On Tue, Mar 01, 2011 at 10:55:16PM -0800, me wrote: > Package: installation-reports > Version: 6.0.0 > > Besides other problems with my new installation of Debian 6.0.0 (stable), I > am unable to sign in as "root" (I do have the right password). The sign-in > screen (which is for "GNOME" only) has only my user account listed besides > "other". When I click "other" and put in "root" or "su-" and then insert > the correct password I get the message "Authentication failure". This is a > i386 version DVD#1 ISO downloaded from the Debian web-sight onto a MS > Windows machine. Then, burned to a DVD+R disk using "Roxio easy media > creator 10" software to create a boot-able disk. I have two HD's, one with > Windows XP and the other HD new and blank that I partitioned (using guided > partitioning with LVM option three- home,root,swap.1. temp, & usr > partitions) and installed Debian on. > > Inside of "GNOME" going to Update Manager, Software Sources, Synoptic > Package Manager, and Users and Groups (under the "System/Administration > header) I can input the "root" password and then work as an administrator in > those dialog boxes. But, after becoming an "Administrator for this > session", in the Network Settings, and Time & Day dialog boxes it says > "Authentication Needed" with no way to input a password though I don't need > to re-input the password in again going back to say the "Update Manager". > When I set myself up as "Administrator for this session" I still cannot do > any root work in a "terminal" screen. > > Also, when I logout of "GNOME" I can only turn off the machine and when I > turn on the machine I can only log into GNOME. The only way to get a > command line is to open a "terminal" within GNOME. I don't know if this is > normal or not as I am new to Linux. > > As this seems to be a major bug, could it be that I somehow have a corrupted > DVD, as there are a couple of other problems I also have at this early date. > (grub doesn't list my Windows OS at boot time though it mentioned it > during the installation, and also my two HD's were listed as SCSI instead of > IDE during installation). > > I do not have an internet connection for the machine I have installed Debian > on so I cannot send in any scripts that were generated. If all else fails, > could I simply re-partition and reinstall to totally get rid of everything > on the HD I put Debian on. The only thing with this would be "grub" which I > think is on the MBR of my HD with the windows OS on it, would that be a > problem or would a new grub be generated along with the new installation. > > Thanks and hope you can help, Stan Ryan.
Given that running X as root has long (pretty much as long as X has existed) been considered a bad idea, most display managers (kdm/gdm/etc) don't permit root to login to X by default. You can change the config to permit it, although I wouldn't recommend it. So some options you have are: Login as a normal user and use 'su -' to run as root temporarily, or sudo, or gtksu or similar to allow root to run a single application in X temporarily. Change the config of the display manager to permit root. I never login to X as root and use the other options instead. But either way, it is working as it should. As someone else mentioned, left control + left alt + F1 (through F6) should give you text consoles where root can login. -- Len Sorensen -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-bugs-dist-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
