new install - can't sudo

**awerking** · June 30th, 2009

Hi all from a noob. Have been using Uduntu 9.04 on an old desktop for a couple weeks now, and have learned a lot - I'm liking Ubuntu! Just completed an Xubuntu install on an old Inspiron 2500 laptop and I've run into an issue that I can't work around.

When I try to run a sudo command I get a warning that says that I am not and authorized "sudoer". Also, I am locked out of all of the system admin settings. When I try to log in as root from the main screen it tells me that root cannot login from there.

Where do I need to login in from as root to give my main user account sudo and admin priviliges?

Thanks!

**sisco311** · June 30th, 2009

By default, the root account password is locked. If you have enabled the root account, then switch to a virtual terminal(Ctrl+Alt+F1), log in as root and add your user to the admin group:

Code:

adduser username admin

If not, then:
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/fixsudo

**Polaris96** · June 30th, 2009

careful, partsdale ... they come in the night ... lol

**awerking** · June 30th, 2009

Thanks, Sisco.

I did enable the root account when I installed, and I can access the root account if I hit escape at boot, go into the alternative boot mode, and login to root on the command line. I couldn't figure out how to add my main user account to the admin group.

This should do the trick - I'll give it a try. Thanks!

Polaris - This is a brand new install on an OLD laptop - had to use the alt install cd and could only complete the install by using apci off and expert modes. I'm guessing I failed to properly execute the step during the text based configuration that would have added my main user account to the admin group. Lesson learned...

**Polaris96** · July 1st, 2009

I'm just glad you're up and running

nice one, sisco.

awerkin, I'm glad you learned how to use root and I disagree with ubuntu's philosophy of denying the knowledge to a user. That said, don't talk too much about it here - they get mad .... omg! I think they're coming! ohshit - no - NO AGAGAGGAGAGAGGAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH! ;P

**cariboo** · July 1st, 2009

Running as root is not part of Ubuntu's take on security. There are more mistakes made because people forget they are running as root, so in order to keep new users from accidently making their installation unusable, the root account has been disabled.

My personal view is that if you have to ask on the forum how to enable root, you aren't ready to do it.

**ronaldprettyman** · July 1st, 2009

Step 1 Reboot the machine (note your want to print/write this down)
Step 2After the system post the initial memory test oem logo screen keep hitting the esc key
Step 3Your get a menu
See some options
This is grub..more then likely could be lilo but I doubt it
Step 4Select the second option for restore mode

Code:

Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-13-generic (recovery mode)

It will boot into single user mode
Step 5Your be given a Blue Screen, select exit to prompt, or goto prompt or shell, I don't know the exact wording off the top of my head but something along those lines.

Now once your at the shell use your favorite editor to execute these commands
if its vi or emacs just replace nano with that, I recommend nano, cause you've already said your a noob

Now your want to know your username, exactly as its spell case senstative, just run this and look at the last couple of lines to see the exact spelling of your username
Step 6

Code:

cat /etc/passwd

Your see something like this

Code:

ron:x:1000:1000:ron,,,:/home/ron:/bin/bash
sshd:x:112:65534::/var/run/sshd:/usr/sbin/nologin
random1:x:1001:1001:,,,:/home/random1:/bin/bash
mysql:x:113:125:MySQL Server,,,:/var/lib/mysql:/bin/false
statd:x:114:65534::/var/lib/nfs:/bin/false

where ron in this case is my default/main username.
So now take that and put it into your suduers file
Step 7

Code:

nano /etc/sudoers

look for a line that looks exactly like this

Code:

root    ALL=(ALL) ALL

just underneath it add

Code:

ron     ALL=(ALL) ALL

where ron would be your default main username
now your should be good to go
Step 8to check this reboot your system, log in as your default username
Step 9and open a terminal (alt+f2) xterm
enter the following
Step 10

Code:

sudo whoami

with the correct response being

Code:

root

if for some reason you have it set to auto login and you can't sudo because you forgot your password
repeat steps 1-5
when you get to a prompt type

Code:

passwd ron

where ron is your default/main username
enter a new password, write it down, remember it
then repeat steps 8-10, you should be successful now

**awerking** · July 1st, 2009

SUCCESS!! Thanks, Sisco and Polaris!

Looks like I botched something on my install from the alt. cd because my system didn't have a user listed in the admin group. Consequently, my sudo file was whacked. I ended up having to add myself to the admin group from root, and then I had to rewrite the sudo file per the phychocats link listed in Sisco's earlier post.

Ronald - Thanks for taking the time to give me an alternative method. Turns out my sudo file needed a little more tidying up. The steps listed in the psychocats link did the trick for me.

Thanks to everyone for the help!