Clams.....

[jdow]

On 2012/09/09 19:02, Eddie G. O'Connor Jr. wrote:
> On 09/09/2012 09:02 PM, Roger wrote:
>> On 09/10/2012 10:29 AM, Eddie G. O'Connor Jr. wrote:
>>> On 09/09/2012 08:26 PM, Doug wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>>> Just become root (su -) and edit the file.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Several folks have answered this:  you have to access the editor
>>>>>> from the command line.  Even if it's a GUI editor. So if you want to
>>>>>> use gedit, or Kate, you'd have to go to a terminal, and become root,
>>>>>> either by su > password > Kate, or sudo Kate.  Then find and open
>>>>>> the file and edit it, and save it.It should save OK, since you were
>>>>>> running in root.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --doug
>>>>>>
>>>>> As a matter of curiosity, have you set up sudo?
>>>>> sudo allows one to perform certain root commands as if root.
>>>>> Once set up, the command sudo gedit /etc/filename would ask for the user
>>>>> password and grant root access to edit the file.
>>>>>
>>>>> Roger
>>>>>
>>>> You are correct, Roger, but some distros do not include sudo (and sudoers
>>>> and visudo) in their regular repos.  I believe that
>>>> this is unfortunate, and it may be possible to suss out a way to obtain them
>>>> then, but it is necessary for some users to
>>>> know the su system of using root capability.  (I am forbidden by the
>>>> purveyors of the distro I use from going into any
>>>> greater detail.)
>>>>
>>>> --doug
>>>>
>>> After "thumbing" through the guide I was so graciously directed to by Doug, I
>>> was able to accomplish everything I needed done....I'm right now sitting down
>>> with a steaming mug of coffee, and I'm about a fourth of the way through
>>> Chapter 4....interesting reading indeed!...
>>>
>>> EGO II
>> That's interesting, I did not know that some distros don't include sudo, etc.
>> I do agree that being root is a good thing at times, but is fraught with
>> dangers galore for the unwary. I can understand why they don't want it public
>> knowledge, youch!
>> Roger
>
> Which is the complete opposite of a Windows mentality....in that universe
> whomever installs the OS IS the administrator.....which isn't always the best
> decision out there.....

Actually with Windows 7 (and apparently Vista, too) it is more like you
are logged in to an account that is more or less sort of (and more weasel
words) equivalent to a Linux account in the wheel group for running sudo.
You CAN do "most" "root" commands; but, you must perform a GUI based
equivalent of sudo first. You can even log into a "sort of root" account
by running the command prompt as administrator. By default you run as a
standard user as in modern Linux setups. (And, yes, this is just as
annoying to serious experienced Windows users on Windows 7 as it is for
serious experienced Linux users on a Linux distro.) It IS, however, worlds
safer when considering malware or clumsy-wetware.

{^_^}