Ubuntu
shadow package

I'm being asked a password to do administrative tasks, but I don't have one on my main user and can't set one because of the need of typing a non-existent password

Asked by Juuso Myller on 2013-03-14

So, as the Summary said it, I'm being asked my Administative accounts password in order to complete certain tasks, such as downloading or removing applications. But, I don't have a password on my administrative user. The problem is, I can't change my password because it doesn't accept blank space for a current password and so I can't really do anything on my computer anymore. If there is a way to get around this or change my password I'd love to learn about it.

Thank you for bearing with me, I'm a brand new user of Ubuntu and still kind of just learning things.

Question information

Language:: English Edit question

Status:: Solved

For:: Ubuntu shadow Edit question

Assignee:: No assignee Edit question

Solved by:: Warren Hill

Solved:: 2013-03-14

Last query:: 2013-03-14

Last reply:: 2013-03-14

Link existing bug

Revision history for this message

Warren Hill (warren-hill) said on 2013-03-14:

You need a password for your main user so you can administer your system. You can set it not to ask for a password at login but I would not recommend that since you are more likely to forget a password if you don't use it often.

To set a password see any of these

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/resetpassword

or here

http://askubuntu.com/questions/24006/how-do-i-reset-a-lost-administrative-password

or here

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/linux/reset-your-forgotten-ubuntu-password-in-2-minutes-or-less