Su returned with an error.

[dkmode]

that would be the message i get every time i try to do any administrator or root action. i have tried to change th e root password and even edit the hosts file in /etc. but every time i attempt to make any root changes i get this error. i am not even able to open up root in terminal. i believe it all started when i added a hard drive. but i believe i added the privileges to the hard drive to the group that i was already in. if they is any way any one would be able to help it would be greatly appreciated.
ps: let me know if im lacking any information that you may need to help me solve this problem.

[penguin.ch]

Re: Su returned with an error.

http://www.penguin.ch/dokuwiki/doku....o#root_revival

[dkmode]

Re: Su returned with an error.

doesn't work. i can enter the command in terminal but it wont respond. and as far as editing a file i am unable to do that as well...

[penguin.ch]

Re: Su returned with an error.

- What does /etc/sudoers contain?
- What does kdesu kate result in?

[dkmode]

Re: Su returned with an error.

i am not even able to access /etc/sudoers . it tells me that i dont have enough permissions to do so. and when i run kdesu kate by pushing alt f2 it says that su has come back with an error. unless i need to enter it into terminal. in witch case just let me know. thanks for your attempts to help thus far.

[penguin.ch]

Re: Su returned with an error.

Hmmm ... what groups does your user (account) belong to? Just key in id and post the results, please ...

[dkmode]

Re: Su returned with an error.

uid=1000(dkmode) gid=1000(dkmode) groups=1(daemon),2(bin),3(sys),4(adm),5(tty),6 (disk),7(lp),8(mail),9(news),10(uucp),12(man),13(p roxy),15(kmem),20(dialout),21( fax),22(voice),24(cdrom),25(floppy),26(tape),27(su do),29(audio),30(dip),33(www-d ata),34(backup),37(operator),38(list),39(irc),40(s rc),41(gnats),42(shadow),43(ut mp),44(video),45(sasl),46(plugdev),50(staff),60(ga mes),100(users),101(dhcp),102( syslog),103(klog),104(ssl-cert),105(crontab),106(ssh),107(messagebus),108(av ahi) ,109(lpadmin),110(haldaemon),111(scanner),112(sloc ate),114(avahi-autoipd),115(ne tdev),116(nvram),117(powerdev),1000(dkmode),1001(m bnrade),65534(nogroup)

[adamsjw2]

Re: Su returned with an error.

dkmode,
(K)Ubuntu doesn't use su, but rather root/administrator tasks are completed for example:

sudo apt-get install; or sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list or sudo chmod 777 myfile

[dkmode]

Re: Su returned with an error.

if you wouldn't mind explaining that a little dumber for me it would be greatly appreciated. b/c if i cant access root terminal then those commands wont even work in regular terminal right? and i dont have permission to change or install anything at all...

[penguin.ch]

Re: Su returned with an error.

gid = [and endless list]

Ooops ... adding the user (account) to every group available is not exactly a wise move; in addition, the account is lacking the membership to admin (not: "adm") - which on (K)Ubuntu systems is a prerequisite of sorts ...

Following the comparable feedback from my main workstation:

USER # id
uid=1000(birdy) gid=1000(birdy) groups=4(adm),24(cdrom),29(audio),
44(video),46(plugdev),109(lpadmin),111(scanner),113(admin),1000(birdy)

You get the idea, I suppose

To revert the account(s) to a more useful state, however, I'd reboot to a live system and review the installed /etc/group "from there" (further reading).

--

Postscript: reference updated

[adamsjw2]

Re: Su returned with an error.

dkmod,
sudo is the prefix that allows you to run commands as root. Kubuntu/Ubuntu are configured to not allow root access via "su" to root. You can change this if you need to, search the wikis/forums/google for "running as root ubuntu." Yes, sudo is run in your terminal window from the command line.

So for example, with Konsole open you type:

sudo top runs top as root user
sudo apt-get install abiword installs abiword.

All software can either be installed from Adept or from the commandline using sudo apt-get

[dkmode]

Re: Su returned with an error.

k i will get right on it. yea i thought it was a good idea at the time. but ill let you know how it turns out. thanks again

[dkmode]

Re: Su returned with an error.

dkmod,
sudo is the prefix that allows you to run commands as root. Kubuntu/Ubuntu are configured to not allow root access via "su" to root. You can change this if you need to, search the wikis/forums/google for "running as root ubuntu." Yes, sudo is run in your terminal window from the command line.

So for example, with Konsole open you type:

sudo top runs top as root user
sudo apt-get install abiword installs abiword.

All software can either be installed from Adept or from the commandline using sudo apt-get

gotcha