Ubuntu

lost root access

Asked by davechapel

I am using Ubuntu 8.04 with all the latest updates.

I have just added a new user with admin rights but now I find all users that should have admin rights (3 people) are unable to use them including myself. In the Users & Groups menu if I click on Properties I find that all User Privileges are ticked except "Administer the System". If I click on "UNLOCK" I get the message:

Could not authenticate
An unexpected error has occurred.

In the Update Manager, if I click "CHECK" and enter the password I get:

Failed to run /usr/sbin/synaptic '--hide-main-window' '--non-interactive' '--parent-window-id' '54525955' '--update-at-startup' as user root.

The underlying authorisation mechanism (sudo) does not allow you to run this program. Contact the system administrator.

I am supposed to be the System Administrator but I am lost - please help......

Dave

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davechapel
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Revision history for this message
Sam_ (and-sam) said : 		#1

Hi,
Recovery Mode and this should help
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/38291

Revision history for this message
mak (iammak) said : 		#2

you may try sudo su to access things from terminal

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davechapel (dbjb) said : 		#3

Many thanks for your help.
I also made the mistake of creating a user called admin.

Adding my user name to admin group solved the problem.

We live and learn!

Dave

Revision history for this message
mak (iammak) said : 		#4

yeah man right said "we live we learn"
everyone shud make mistakes and then learn from them