Have reinstalled Kubuntu after reorganising my second disk and I cannot figure out how to set a known password for the superuser. I did It some time ago when I first installed Kubuntu but I can't remember how.
Any help appreciate. If I remember correctly I also put a permanent password into sudo, I can't remember how to do that either 8-)
Any help much appreciated.
Alan.

sudo passwd root ?

Your sudo password should be the password of the first user created when you installed. In other words, your password. You must have that or you wouldn't have been able to "reorganize" that second disc.

I have the same problem.

When I did the install, I was prompted to create a normal user account with a password for myself, and a root password for administrative work.
Now, in Kubuntu, certain setting changes ask for administrator log in--
I enter my password: "invalid password"
I enter the root password referred to above: "conversation with su failed."

Why did the creators of Ubuntu do this? Why couldnt they just follow what other distros do?

To have a proper root account in Ubuntu or Kubuntu, do
If using Kubuntu, you can fix the su or kdesu problem by editing /usr/share/kubuntu-default-settings/kde-profile/default/share/config/kdeglobals and adding the lines below
Once you have done that, you can get rid of sudo by running visudo and commenting out the privileges that allow users in admin to run all commands on the system.

Thanks very much. I will certainly give that a try in both interfaces.

Thanks! I followed your clear instructions and it works perfectly now, both in Ubuntu and Kubuntu.

i am using kubuntu 8.04 and i am trying to install the ati driver for a 64 bit card but it says that i need to be logged in as superuser for installation. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE JUST TELL ME HOW TO LOG IN AS SUPERUSER INSTEAD OF ALL THESE USELESS, TIME-CONSUMING WRAPAROUNDS?!! PLEASE!!!

To what "USELESS, TIME-CONSUMING WRAPAROUND" do you refer? If your login is a sudoer you can su or sudo the command and - voila - it works. Ubuntu does not, by default, have a root account. But you can create one. Login as root - voila - it works.

Please describe the process you're using and perhaps we can help you.

I use Debian mostly so I am used to using "su" or "su -" to get super-user permissions. but I am going to be installing ubuntu hardy on a laptop to try to get my parents to switch to linux so I can get rid of windows in my house, just easier for me to be a systems admin of the house when I use that operating system. Will what reddazz said switch from using the user password for admin programs like synaptics, and use just the root password so I can install right on my parents accounts and not have to log on, locally or remotely, and install as it is more time consuming.Thanx for all help past present and future.

Kyle
#Texasone