Ubuntu

how to run something as "root" in ubuntu

Asked by jagriff

 I'm a newbie, and I am trying to get compiz fusion to work on my copy of Ununtu 7.10 (gutsy I think), and I tried a series of things, and the general consences is that I need to manually install the proper graphics driver (NVIDIA). I went to the NVIDIA website and downloaded the proper driver for my computer (AMD dual core 64 bit) and when I choose the "run in terninal" option the script tells me that I need to run it as root.

How do I do that?

any help would be awsome!

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EricNelson (enels) said : 		#1

Hi jagriff, in order to run something as root in Ubuntu, you use 'sudo'. Basically, this means prefacing your command with 'sudo' and you will be then prompted for your user password. (If your driver is located in your home home folder, simply open a terminal and type "sudo drivername" and see if it works). The wiki has some more detailed information and examples: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo

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EricNelson (enels) said : 		#2

Additionally, you may be interested in trying Envy. It can be used to install up-to-date video drivers from ATI/AMD and nVidia. More info is at http://www.albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html

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Jim Hutchinson (jphutch) said : 		#3

Nvidia drivers should not be much trouble. Did you try the restricted driver manager (system - admin)? That seems to do a great job with nvidia and sometimes ATI. That doesn't mean all will work but I'd say rare. What are they system specs?

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jagriff (jagriff) said : 		#4

I went to system/administration/restricted drivers managers and got

 Enable the Driver?

 NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (latest cards)

 This driver is required to fully utilise the 3D potential of NVIDIA graphics cards, as well as provide 2D acceleration of newer cards.

 If you wish to enable desktop effects, this driver is required.

 If this driver is not enabled, you will not be able to enable desktop effects and will not be able to run software that requires 3D acceleration, such as some games.

 CANCEL ENABLE DRIVER

I selected enable driver, and got this message...

 The software source for the package

    nvidia-glx-new

  is not enabled.

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Jim Hutchinson (jphutch) said : 		#5

Open system - admin - software sources and enable all the third party options. I'm not sure that is the fix but it's a good guess.

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Gaurish Sharma (gslive) said : 		#6

Try the following steps

1) System>Adminstration>Software sources>Ubuntu Software tab>check main,universe,restricted,multiverse.
    If already checked then ignore but ensure that "Proprietary Drivers for devices(restricted)" is CHECKED.

Now it will ask you to reload when click on close. Say yes

2)Now go to System>administration>restricted driver manager> Click to enable the driver.
Now the system will install a new package "nvidia-glx-new".

To complete the installation. Just restart Your X server(Display) by

Ctrl + Alt + Backspace

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