ststem locks up after 60 seconds

The sudo functionality you are using keeps your system safe. Your user is that, a user. In windows you are admin and EVERY process including your browser is running as admin too. Any nastiness on-line also inherit this access and are allowed to run rife on the system. Ubuntu keeps you as a user and have limited access. You can get extra privileges by using sudo and gksudo but ONLY that process will run with the extra access. In short, it's for your own good. It's not because you are a spy or anything like that, it just makes the OS run properly and limit damage you can do yourself, as well as anything you may drag in accidentally.

When you say "system shuts down", does it just log you off or does the system completely reboot?

Tanx heaps actionparsnip . Re "system shuts down" yeh it logs me off , its annoying like if i,m taking notes or answer the phone it i have too log back in.10 mins would be cool but 60 secs just makes this o/s inconvenient . Ive installed on my mac with mac o/s and also have a sepatate win 7 computer , would like to go just linux.

System->Preference->Something I have forgotten (about power saving I believe)
You will find an option to remove locking of screen.
If you don't find, post again and I will look this evening on my Ubuntu computer.

HEY delance i had previously changed power management settings in system prefs but that doesn't over ride the 60 sec shutdown

Perhaps there is misunderstanding. After 60 seconds:
   1) you get a locked screen
   2) you reboot computer

Ok what happens is i get a locked screen after exactly 60 seconds (screen goes black ) and when hit any key or mouse i then have too enter my (authenticate ) password as administrator too get back too what i was working on . What i wish to do is have this disabled completely for all eternity as it shits me no end but i can't find any way to do this in any of the programs or any where with in the u.i. or help section or preferences ( am new linux user )

Check your screensaver settings.
Maybe it's set to 1 minute
You can then change this, and/or specify NOT to lock the computer when the screensaver runs.

Tanx Francois , this is one of the very first actions i tried (check all settings ) , again i can find no way too disable this in ANY area of the o/s . I'm am going too do a clean install and then an upgrade too ubuntu 10.10 on the 12th Oct and see if this is all sorted ,in mean time windows 7 is actually faster and more stable than this os so i can wait ...................................

If you can wait, wait until 10th of October and install Maverich directly. An upgrade will take you much longer and leave some unnecessary files maybe. Upgrades on Ubuntu are quite efficient, but a clean install will always be better I think. Just my two cents on this, maybe won't make a huge diff, but why spend time to upgrade if you can spend it to do something more interesting? :)

 Tanxs Francois will do this . Tanx too all advice esp delance. problem is fixed after last boot I'm not sure what fixed this after changing screen saver prefs in different combos i now have normal controlable power and screen settings .Cheers

Thanks delance, that solved my question.