Login to local install with LiveCD

[thatsmyboy]

Hardy Heron - Dell C521

Hey guys, I am a new Ubuntu (read Linux) user and due to some problems I decided to install Win XP SP2 on an NTFS recovery partition on my box. During the install I was notified that in order to boot windows I would need to inactivate the ext3 partition. I consented and subsequently lost the ability to boot Ubuntu directly. Using the LiveCD, I have been able to inspect the drive and verify that the information in Ubuntu is available and intact. My real problem is that there are a number of picture files that I need to copy to removable storage that based on permissions I cannot access. I've devised a number of ways to attempt to solve this problem , but the lowest risk I can see right now is to login to my hard drive Ubuntu user account with the CD (if such a thing is possible). Just for information, i'm considering -

logging in from a livecd

reinstalling GRUB
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=816458

finding out how to use gksu / gksudo

adding a user which has group privileges to the file

anything else you could think of.

help is much appreciated

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z63/fdklesd/Screenshot-unsortedpictures-FileBro.png

[dstew]

Try adding a new user onto the Live CD system with the same username as on the hard drive Ubuntu system. Give the new user administrative priveleges. Logon as the new user, and hopefully you will then be able to access your files.

[thatsmyboy]

Thanks dstew for your quick reply. Your suggestion worked ! for my limited aims, that was sufficient to solve my problem. I didn't try creating another user name with administrative privileges but i suppose that would work too. if anyone cares to take another stab at my original question, that would be welcome as it really seems like you should be able to log in to a user's account if you have the correct password. thanks again!