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Thread ID: 66053	2006-02-09 06:10:00	Linux Headache $ or #	sam m (517)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
428683	2006-02-09 06:10:00	Well it has just dawned on me that there appears to be quite a difference between these 2 symbols $ and # when working within a terminal . In days of past I always, always did everything in root as I figured that everything can be done there . However I have to my dismay found that the instructions I were following were in fact "$" which is just std terminal . For months I have been struggling with installing apps with Ubuntu . I even ordered the latest version 5 . 10 (but when I had trouble installing that I went back to 4 . 10), on reinstalling apps it became apparant that half of my trouble I was having was because I was trying to do EVERYTHING in root, some of it would not work . Now in my WIndows trained mind I assumed that root would be equivalent to Administrator, but the instructions I was following would (now I have found out) only work in std terminal . What gives? I have now successfully (and now very easily) installed, Limewire, xine, skype & flash in a fraction of the time and with less frustration . I am starting to like my linux box again .	sam m (517)
428684	2006-02-09 06:29:00	The default path for root is a bit different than the one for a "user" . One very significant difference is that the current directory isn't in the root path . So if a script is written on the assumption it will be run from a user account it might not have the added . / prefix to some things, so they can be found . :D If you were getting "not found" sort of error messages when you know damn well the things do exist . . . "right there, idiot machine", that's why . It's not a problem I've had, but perhaps the Ubuntu people thought "well we've told 'em to do this as a user, we'll learn 'em if they do it as root" . :D Or it might be just by accident . ;)	Graham L (2)
428685	2006-02-09 06:46:00	Most of this Linux stuff is gobbledegook to me, but I find that I learn best by playing until it breaks, then work out why . Normally this will lead me on a bit of a tangent but all fun . On other distros I have played around with I got into the habit of using root terminal as default, but then again the times I used terminal was few and far between, so consequently didnt learn that much . With Ubuntu I can use synaptic but find this is limiting so have decided this time around to do everything from terminal . The learning curve may have just moved off horizontal . . . . . . . maybe . Cheers	sam m (517)
428686	2006-02-09 08:01:00	maybe you should learn the sudo command. I haven't used Ubuntu myself but I assume it is pretty similiar to Debian. the root user is more powerful than the Administrator under Windows (in fact in OSes such as Mac OS X, they lock the root user account by default). Sounds like these Apps in particular are installed per user, rather than system-wide. And the basic problem is that knwoing Windows doesn't help you much with Linux (it works the other way too).. vastly different beasts.	gibler (49)
428687	2006-02-09 08:05:00	Ubuntu has no *real* root account, it makes the user use sudo to gain root like powers.	Jen (38)
428688	2006-02-09 08:09:00	Ubuntu has no *real* root account, it makes the user use sudo to gain root like powers. :horrified	Murray P (44)
428689	2006-02-09 08:14:00	What's the root password after I install? How do I use the root account? (www.ubuntu.com) The root account is disabled when you first install Ubuntu. The first user created during the installation has administrative rights on the system, and can run programs as root with sudo, using only their normal user password. RootSudo (wiki.ubuntu.com) By default, the password for root is locked in Ubuntu. This means you cannot login as root or use su. Instead, the installer will setup sudo to allow the user that is created during install to run all administrative commands. This means that in the terminal you can use sudo for commands that require root privileges. All programs in the menu will use a graphical sudo to prompt for a password. When sudo asks for a password, it needs YOUR password, this means that a root password is not needed.	Jen (38)
428690	2006-02-09 08:35:00	What's the root password after I install? How do I use the root account? (www.ubuntu.com) The root account is disabled when you first install Ubuntu. The first user created during the installation has administrative rights on the system, and can run programs as root with sudo, using only their normal user password. RootSudo (wiki.ubuntu.com) By default, the password for root is locked in Ubuntu. This means you cannot login as root or use su. Instead, the installer will setup sudo to allow the user that is created during install to run all administrative commands. This means that in the terminal you can use sudo for commands that require root privileges. All programs in the menu will use a graphical sudo to prompt for a password. When sudo asks for a password, it needs YOUR password, this means that a root password is not needed. Ek, I'll be sticking with Debian.	gibler (49)
428691	2006-02-09 08:43:00	What's the root password after I install? How do I use the root account? ( . ubuntu . com/support/faq?action=show&redirect=support%2Fdocumentation%2Ffaq" target="_blank">www . ubuntu . com) The root account is disabled when you first install Ubuntu . The first user created during the installation has administrative rights on the system, and can run programs as root with sudo, using only their normal user password . RootSudo ( . ubuntu . com/RootSudo" target="_blank">wiki . ubuntu . com) By default, the password for root is locked in Ubuntu . This means you cannot login as root or use su . Instead, the installer will setup sudo to allow the user that is created during install to run all administrative commands . This means that in the terminal you can use sudo for commands that require root privileges . All programs in the menu will use a graphical sudo to prompt for a password . When sudo asks for a password, it needs YOUR password, this means that a root password is not needed . *sore neck watching all this fly over my head* Not really too worried as of now I do have access to my Windows box which is further than I have ever gotten with other distros (nothing wrong with the others, it was me, I just couldnt figure it out) So I can now add - networking Ubuntu to XP :thumbs: Next will be get the CD/DVD burning and I might just live on this box - yeehaa, I love ubuntu!!	sam m (517)
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