My admin password won't work to login as root

You don't use "su" in Ubuntu, but "sudo". The password for root is randomly set, so you cannot use this account.

If you want to install the VMWare addons, use the command "sudo sh /media/...../VBoxAdditions.......sh" for instance (if you know how to run a command from the terminal). However, just by clicking on the Vbox CD in Nautilus, you are offered to run the install program. Click the button, enter your password, and it should install it.

Thank you so much for your response, but it proved to be an unsuccessful venture.

First, I carefully searched my UBUNTU files for something called Nautilus and could not find the application. I searched the internet and could not find such a program to download. I did find something that would run Nautilus better, but could not figure out what to do with it, assuming I could download it.

No Nautilus.

Next I tried the command line instructions using "/VBox Additons", etc, but all I could get was "command not found". Next, I used the title of the VMWareTools instead with every variation I could think of, including the version number, etc. Still only got "command not found".

I am quite frustrated with this process and obviously, I am too inexperienced with this software and am working from a position of ignorance.

I am hoping I can trouble you helpers for some more basic instructions, or perhaps, some correction in some error I am committing.

Rick
On Sep 27, 2010, at 11:55 AM, François Tissandier wrote:

> Your question #126949 on sudo in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/sudo/+question/126949
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> François Tissandier proposed the following answer:
> You don't use "su" in Ubuntu, but "sudo". The password for root is
> randomly set, so you cannot use this account.
>
> If you want to install the VMWare addons, use the command "sudo sh
> /media/...../VBoxAdditions.......sh" for instance (if you know how to
> run a command from the terminal). However, just by clicking on the Vbox
> CD in Nautilus, you are offered to run the install program. Click the
> button, enter your password, and it should install it.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/sudo/+question/126949/+confirm?answer_id=0
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/sudo/+question/126949
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

Ok, sorry, my mistake. Nautilus is the file browser, but it's never called like that. You are using it when you are click on any place in the "places" menu. There you can see your CDROm in the left column. So my advise was stupid, this name never appears anywhere in fact, it's just a bad habit of mine.

So, please try again this way. To run it in the terminal requires to first go on the virtual CD ROM that VirtualBox creates, then run the right commant. It's much easier to do it using the file browser as it will just show you a bar including the button.

So to summarize:
-Start your virtual machine
-in the Virtualbox menu window, click on "install guest add-ons" option (I cannot tell you how the menu is called, it's in french on my system, but that's the second menu, last option) if you didn't do it yet. It must be done once the machine is started.
-in Ubuntu, click on the place menu
-click on "home folder" for instance
-the file browser will appear
-in the left column, you should see a CD icon with "VBOXADDITIONS...". Click on it.
-the content appears on the right, with a bar at the top, showing something like "the media has been detected as "UNIX software" and a button "Open Autorun Prompt"
-click on this button
-click on "run"
-enter your password (the one you are using to log in)
-it will install the addons.
-reboot the Virtual Machine to have all the benefits from these addons.

I hope it's clearer. I'm using a virtual machine with Ubuntu 10.10, so it may be slightly differnet from yours. But that should be really close.

Ok, sorry, my mistake. Nautilus is the file browser, but it's never called like that. You are using it when you are click on any place in the "places" menu. There you can see your CDROm in the left column. So my advise was stupid, this name never appears anywhere in fact, it's just a bad habit of mine.

So, please try again this way. To run it in the terminal requires to first go on the virtual CD ROM that VirtualBox creates, then run the right commant. It's much easier to do it using the file browser as it will just show you a bar including the button.

So to summarize:
-Start your virtual machine
-in the Virtualbox menu window, click on "install guest add-ons" option (I cannot tell you how the menu is called, it's in french on my system, but that's the second menu, last option) if you didn't do it yet. It must be done once the machine is started.
-in Ubuntu, click on the place menu
-click on "home folder" for instance
-the file browser will appear
-in the left column, you should see a CD icon with "VBOXADDITIONS...". Click on it.
-the content appears on the right, with a bar at the top, showing something like "the media has been detected as "UNIX software" and a button "Open Autorun Prompt"
-click on this button
-click on "run"
-enter your password (the one you are using to log in)
-it will install the addons.
-reboot the Virtual Machine to have all the benefits from these addons.

I hope it's clearer. I'm using a virtual machine with Ubuntu 10.10, so it may be slightly differnet from yours. But that should be really close.

thank you françois, for your answer to my question. Unfortunately, what I see and what you see seem to be different.
 saying "install guest add-ons". Next under Places there is a home folder and the CD Icon DOES appear, but it is not titled as you suggested.

clicking on the CD image reveals a folder and a document. The document is not helpful. The folder properties says it is a TAR (compressed) folder. When I go to expand it, I am asked to create a folder. When I try to create a folder and name it, I get a message that I cannot do that as I do not have permissions to do so.

Honestly, this seems almost more trouble than it is worth. I am trying to learn a bit about UBUNTU, but, perhaps as a Macintosh user, I am too spoiled to understand exactly what I am trying to do here.

Even if I succeed in installing these tools (which, I understand will permit printing, etc), I wonder if UBUNTU is just not practical to try to use as a learning tool?

I will look for another answer, but if your patience is at an end, I will understand and just give up.

Rick

On Sep 28, 2010, at 12:40 AM, François Tissandier wrote:

> Your question #126949 on sudo in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/sudo/+question/126949
>
> François Tissandier proposed the following answer:
> Ok, sorry, my mistake. Nautilus is the file browser, but it's never
> called like that. You are using it when you are click on any place in
> the "places" menu. There you can see your CDROm in the left column. So
> my advise was stupid, this name never appears anywhere in fact, it's
> just a bad habit of mine.
>
> So, please try again this way. To run it in the terminal requires to
> first go on the virtual CD ROM that VirtualBox creates, then run the
> right commant. It's much easier to do it using the file browser as it
> will just show you a bar including the button.
>
> So to summarize:
> -Start your virtual machine
> -in the Virtualbox menu window, click on "install guest add-ons" option (I cannot tell you how the menu is called, it's in french on my system, but that's the second menu, last option) if you didn't do it yet. It must be done once the machine is started.
> -in Ubuntu, click on the place menu
> -click on "home folder" for instance
> -the file browser will appear
> -in the left column, you should see a CD icon with "VBOXADDITIONS...". Click on it.
> -the content appears on the right, with a bar at the top, showing something like "the media has been detected as "UNIX software" and a button "Open Autorun Prompt"
> -click on this button
> -click on "run"
> -enter your password (the one you are using to log in)
> -it will install the addons.
> -reboot the Virtual Machine to have all the benefits from these addons.
>
> I hope it's clearer. I'm using a virtual machine with Ubuntu 10.10, so
> it may be slightly differnet from yours. But that should be really
> close.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/sudo/+question/126949/+confirm?answer_id=3
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/sudo/+question/126949
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

Mmmm
Maybe it's a bit different when you run Virtualbox on a Mac (are you?).

I understand your frustration, it shouldn't be hard to install the add-ons. And on my system it's not. But I can't compare on different systems, there are necessarily differences. When you press the "install guest add-ons", Virtualbox seems unable to create the virtual CD in the Ubuntu guest. Why, that's a very good question. If you know where to look at, could you check the settings of your virtual machine and tell me if you have a CD-ROM drive installed? You can decide to create or not a CD-ROM drive and floppy drive in your guest machines. So maybe it's not activated on your Ubuntu virtual machine. Worth having a quick look I think.

Also, when you say "I wonder if UBUNTU is just not practical to try to use as a learning tool?", remember that you are running it on as a virtual machine. It's slower, you don't have access to all your hardware, it's not the full experience. So that's a way to test a system, but one should not really conclude only by using a VM. I think Apple doesn't allow to virtualize its operation system for instance... They know people could be disappointed by the experience I think.

But nevertheless, I don't pretend that Ubuntu is perfect or better. Maybe OSX is what you need and you won't be satisfied by Ubuntu, it's a matter of various criteria (what you are doing with your computer, which hardware you are using, what's your philosophy regarding softwares and how they are managing your data, etc...). I just wanted to underline the side effects of virtualization.

Good luck with your tests ;)

Hi François,

I DO have the image of the CD, but cannot find the "install Guest addons". I have Windows XP and Windows 7 running just fine with VMWare tools installed with no problem, I just can't find the necessary menu selection. Additionally, the folder inside the CD reads as a compressed TAR file. I am asked to create a folder to receive the uncompressed files, but when I try to create a folder, I get a dialog that I don't have sufficient permission.

Rick

On Sep 29, 2010, at 12:47 PM, François Tissandier wrote:

> Your question #126949 on sudo in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/sudo/+question/126949
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> François Tissandier proposed the following answer:
> Mmmm
> Maybe it's a bit different when you run Virtualbox on a Mac (are you?).
>
> I understand your frustration, it shouldn't be hard to install the add-
> ons. And on my system it's not. But I can't compare on different
> systems, there are necessarily differences. When you press the "install
> guest add-ons", Virtualbox seems unable to create the virtual CD in the
> Ubuntu guest. Why, that's a very good question. If you know where to
> look at, could you check the settings of your virtual machine and tell
> me if you have a CD-ROM drive installed? You can decide to create or not
> a CD-ROM drive and floppy drive in your guest machines. So maybe it's
> not activated on your Ubuntu virtual machine. Worth having a quick look
> I think.
>
> Also, when you say "I wonder if UBUNTU is just not practical to try to
> use as a learning tool?", remember that you are running it on as a
> virtual machine. It's slower, you don't have access to all your
> hardware, it's not the full experience. So that's a way to test a
> system, but one should not really conclude only by using a VM. I think
> Apple doesn't allow to virtualize its operation system for instance...
> They know people could be disappointed by the experience I think.
>
> But nevertheless, I don't pretend that Ubuntu is perfect or better.
> Maybe OSX is what you need and you won't be satisfied by Ubuntu, it's a
> matter of various criteria (what you are doing with your computer, which
> hardware you are using, what's your philosophy regarding softwares and
> how they are managing your data, etc...). I just wanted to underline the
> side effects of virtualization.
>
> Good luck with your tests ;)
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/sudo/+question/126949/+confirm?answer_id=5
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/sudo/+question/126949
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

Hello Rick

This "install add ons" option is NOT in the guest system, but in the menu of the window Virtuabox is opening when you start the VM. If you are on Mac OSX, it could be in the top bar instead.

This tar file is not the right one, don't waste your time on it. You just need to find where is the option to install the add ons first. Are you running the guest full screen? Or in a window?

I will send you a screenshot of what i'm talking about when I'm at work.