I just did a "chown -R root:root /*" help

**krassi** · 06-10-2005

I was just installing mplayer when I tried to change the ownership of all the files in the directory but I think I screwed it up. I did "chown -R root:root /*" logged in as root, in the "/usr/local/share/mplayer/" directory and I think it started changing the ownership of the files throughout the system. Now I can't open anything, even the file explorer crashes. How can I fix this. Is there a way to return to the default ownership of the system, or to undo the last command or something.
Any help would be appreciated. I really don't want to reisnstall again. It would be my fifth time reinstalling in the last two weeks.
Thanks.

**lakerdonald** · 06-10-2005

Yeah, you've changed the entire system's permissions.
Basically, chown -R all of the home directories back to the users, and make sure that the files in /bin, /usr/bin, etc. are all chmod 755.
Then just reset permissions accordlingly whenever you get errors.

**krassi** · 06-10-2005

Thanks ....

I did it and it worked, now can run programs and stuff like that but ...
I can't authenticate as root any more. I closed the console window that was opened and when I opened it again and tried authenticating as root it didn't take my password.
Have I messed up the ownership and/or the permissions of a password file or something...

**lakerdonald** · 06-10-2005

Hmm...probably your /etc/pam.d/su file

**krassi** · 06-10-2005

all files in the "/etc/pam.d/" are owned root:root , including the "su" file
I won't be able to change it anyway because now I can't authenticate as root anymore
Is there anyway to reset the password or anything? Reconfigure Debian or X11 maybe ...

**lakerdonald** · 06-10-2005

The problem probably is the fact that they are like that. Make sure that it is:

Code:

chmod 644

(that is -rw-r--r--).
I assume you mean you can't

Code:

su

to login as root, correct?
Or can you not login to a vt as root either?

**krassi** · 06-10-2005

I can't authenticate as root anywhere

**lakerdonald** · 06-10-2005

What is the exact error message?

**krassi** · 06-10-2005

krassi@debian:~$ su
Password:
su: Authentication failure
Sorry.
krassi@debian:~$

btw I just logged out and in again and got this too:

Sound server informational message:
Error while initializing the sound driver:
device /dev/dsp can't be opened (Permission denied)
The sound server will continue, using the null output device.

in an info box

**krassi** · 06-10-2005

Thanks anyway ... I will manage till tomorrow morning and I will probably reinstall.

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I just did a "chown -R root:root /*" help

now I can't authenticate as root

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