How do you login as root in UBUNTU 12.04? - UPDATED!

This is not advised or needed. You can run:

gksudo nautilus

and access the files there.

Thank you for the reply.

For years I have used all my UBUNTU machines as the "root" user without issue. I find it a lot eaiser to move around, copy/move files and add 3rd party applications.

I would like to continue to operate as "root" user in UBUNTU 12.04 if that is possible. If not, I will reinstall 11.10 so I can continue to operate the way I am most comfortable.

If anybody knows a way to login as "root" in UBUNTU 12.04 I would perfer to stay with the latest version.

Again, any help will be appreciated.

Its not needed to run the OS as root, it cripples security. It can be done,I just refuse to advise how as it's not needed. It's one reason Windows gets so many issues, moron users logging on as Administrator to web browse.

Thank you for the reply and insult. If you are unable or unwilling to answer my request for help, please don't reply again and leave my request open.

If anybody else knows a way to login as "root" in UBUNTU 12.04 I would appreciate the answer.

Sincerely,

Pete

> I am not concerned about the lack of "root" security on this machine

Pete, if you aren't concerned about *your machine* fine, but maybe others which share the same network infrastructures.
Unless your computer isn't connected to the internet please refrain from running firefox and other GUIs as root.
Not knowing how to restore the account only supports concerns. Thank you.

Sam,

Thank you for the advice. The "machines" in question are on a subnet on one of two home networks. They are connected to the Internet, serve as DLNA servers and run TV tuner cards hooked to my cable company. My other home network uses a different router, SSID & encryption protocols. I am retired and just enjoy playing with these computers. Working with root privileges is a lot less frustrating for me than fighting all the additional syntax and password requirements when logged in as a normal user. There is no information on these computers that I can't afford to have compromised and if the OS gets corrupted it is entertainment to reinstall. I understand the increased security vulnerability, but in my case it truly is a don't care. I have run as "root" user since back in the days of 6.04 (without ever having a problem). "sudo passwd root" used to allow me to add a password to the "root" account and I was good to go. 12.04 appears to have removed the "Other" login option and Guest doesn't allow typing in "root" so this is the first time that I have encountered not being able to log in as root when I want to play. I am not a software engineer or programmer and I don't want to be protected from myself. I can however appreciate not wanting to help me out of fear that providing me the information I requested might put others at risk.

Thank you for your concern,

Sincerely,

Pete

have a read of this document: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo this will tell you how to do if you really want to.... but it'll also give you explanations of how to do things.... better

Thanks, I think this article (or one similar) is what I used years ago to be able to login as "root". I will read it in detail tomorrow (wife wants to go out for dinner). If I don't get the answers I want I'll re-ask the question to get the "Other" login option back that will allow me to login as "root" when I want to move graphics or make other system changes.

Again thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Pete

just the reference the sudo passwd root should have worked..... what you might try doing is disabling it (document explains how) and then re-enabling it.... or you could log temporarily into the terminal as root via a sudo su and then just run passwd

Like everyone else I advise against it however... but the choice is yours

Pete, when your system is compromised would it matter to you when it would be turned against others?

I've a more serious problem with su and root passwords, after upgrading to 12.04 from 11.10 I can no longer even use SU in a terminal. I enter the password for root to access a su session and it just says authentication failed.

After all the hassle I've had since upgrading to 12.04 it looks like it's totally messed up my system, as apart from su and root password no longer working, the resolution changes for time to time after a reboot, and reverts back again when it feels like it, plus the login screen vanishes.

It would apear 12.04 was probably brought out as a full upgrade too early, unless my system somehow picked up the beta version without informing me.

Just to confirm - sudo passwd root works like it always has. My guess is that the upgrade somehow went wrong. If you have stuff in your root account you want to rescue, I would boot from a live-DVD and back it up before your present system somehow loses the data.

Barry,

Yes, <sudo passwd root> still allows you to assign a password to the root account. Unfortunately, UBUNTU 12.04 doesn't provide a login prompt like "Other" that appeared in all the earlier versions. Hence, no way is provided to enter "root" as a login option.

Adding the line: <greeter-show-manual-login=true> (without the brackets) to the "lightdm.conf" file causes a new “Login” window to be displayed on boot (replaces the previous "Other" window) that allows for Username and then Password input .

I have 3 computers with Ubuntu 12.04 installed (one was a fresh install of 12.04 and two were upgraded from 11.10) and in each case the "Other" prompt was missing so I believe it was a deliberate change by the designers rather than upgrades "that somehow went wrong".

I have 11 computers that were either given to me or assembled from old parts that friends and neighbors wanted to get rid of. Just to verify, I grabbed one this morning and did a fresh install. Same result -no "Other" option or anyway to login other than as "Guest" or my user name.

I retired in a predominately blue-color neighborhood with some of the highest unemployment numbers in the nation so I enjoy resurrecting other peoples "junk", installing Ubuntu and giving them to local HS & college students that otherwise wouldn't have computer access at home. Entertainment for me that sometimes benefits others.

Hope I answered your question.

Pete