How to add user

[UserJB]

Hi,

I tried 'sudo adduser Joe' which seemed to work. I could su to Joe. But when I logged out and tried to log back in, the login screen didn't give me an option to login as Joe. What's the correct way to add a user in ubuntu?

[slickymaster]

Using the command line:

sudo adduser username

and follow the prompts to give the account a password and identifiable characteristics such as a full name, phone number, etc.

Doing it graphically: AddUsersHowto

[UserJB]

I can add a user with the 'adduser' command, but when I log out and try to login with that new userid, the ubuntu login screen won't give me the option of logging in as that userid. It only lists the previous userids. So, how can I add the new userid to the login screen so I can login as that userid?

[UserJB]

I did that already. But when I log out and try to log in as the new userid, the ubuntu login screen doesn't list the new userid, and there's no way to change to that userid. So, what else do I have to do?

[overdrank]

Hi and please do not create multiple threads on the same issue. Threads merged.

[UserJB]

Hi and it's a different issue. Please read before merging.

[slickymaster]

I did that already. But when I log out and try to log in as the new userid, the ubuntu login screen doesn't list the new userid, and there's no way to change to that userid. So, what else do I have to do?

Well, it should appear in the drop down list at login screen. Have you try to do it graphically through System > Administration > Users and Groups? Do it and see if that way the same thing happens.

[UserJB]

There is no 'System' menu. So I haven't tried graphically.

When I try to login to the machine, it doesn't list an 'other' option which allows me to change the username.

[Toz]

Which version of Ubuntu are you using?

Can you post back the /etc/passwd entry for your "joe" account?

Does a home directory exist for "joe" in /home?

[UserJB]

> /etc/os-release
::::::::::::::
NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION="12.04.2 LTS, Precise Pangolin"

The entry for Joe (actually Tom) in /etc/passwd is:
Tom:504:504::/home/Tom:/bin/sh

I think the problem is with the UID and GID. If I create another username without specifying a UID and GID, and use the default instead, which turns out to be 1001, then that username is selectable in the login prompt.

However, that isn't good enough for me. I want to create accounts with UID and GID of 500 so that I can read/write files on other partitions (those partitions were created in different distro's on Linux with users that had a UID and GID of 500). Is there a way in Ubuntu to create accounts with a UID and GID of 500, and have it work? And, why doesn't that work in Ubuntu?