My Debian desktop won't let me shutdown - h now unless I first logon as root. This is irritating.

There is a simple way round the problem: go to /etc/inittab ??, anyway the basic init file, and, among the first 20 lines or so, there is a line about what to do when ALT-UpArrow is pressed. By default it just echos a message to the monitor. Replace this command with shutdown and any user may shut down by pressing alt-uparrow.

Of course anything could be put there. (With the qualification that it would have to be quite short to fit inside the permitted field, at least on my system.)

A small thing but irritation saving. And perhaps useful during meltdowns.

Try using the sudo command.

Then what would you suggest for the alt-uparrow? Nothing anatomical.

//note to self... READ posts before replying...

Also, note to self, Think about the forum your posting in before making a post. This is not a success story, moving to Linux - General where its more suitable.

Regards.

I'm bloody mystified.

check this thread

[edit] hmm, i also need to note to myself: read posts _thoroughly_ before answering

.....there is a reason there is a removable power cord

There's a wealth of shutdown commands in linux ...However, commands like shutdown are available only to the root.

As a normal user, you can use 'halt' to switch off the computer. You can also check if the command 'poweroff' works as user.

I think you might already know all these commands, however, just in case you don't...I've given a pointer.

Regards,

amit

No I'd never heard of halt and poweroff, thanks. Anyway thanks all.