how do i log in as root?

H

harry4000

macrumors newbie

Original poster

• Nov 6, 2003

• #1

I try typing "su" in the terminal, and it prompts me for a password. The password that I use for my user account doesn't work. Does anybody know what the default password is?

 

jeremy.king

macrumors 603

• Nov 6, 2003

• #2

Try this

By default the password is "locked"

If memory serves, You need to login as a user with admin priviledges and open Terminal and then

sudo passwd root

To set the password.

Let me know if that helps. I could be way off.

 

jxyama

macrumors 68040

• Nov 6, 2003

• #3

i *have to* ask why. the general thought is that if you don't know how to turn it on, you perhaps shouldn't have root access to begin with..?

that said, if the terminal command doesn't work, try accessing Netinfo Manager -> Security.

 

C

ckwm

macrumors member

• Nov 6, 2003

• #4

Originally posted by jxyama
i *have to* ask why. the general thought is that if you don't know how to turn it on, you perhaps shouldn't have root access to begin with..?

that said, if the terminal command doesn't work, try accessing Netinfo Manager -> Security.

Click to expand...

As it happens, I'd like to know too! I am the only user on my iMac and it bugs me there is stuff I can't do (like delete certain directories such as previous systems). As it happens, you can do this in Panther with the admin password.

I get your point though, jxyama. Perhaps there should be something in the install where you can set the password.

 

H

harry4000

macrumors newbie

Original poster

• Nov 6, 2003

• #5

yeah, the sudo passwd works, thx.

 

G

GigaWire

macrumors 6502

• Nov 6, 2003

• #6

/applications/utilities/netinfo manager

Netinfo has a nice gui for setting up root access among many other things.

under the security tab is the enable root user option