Password issue

[gm__]

Hi all!

I'm new to Linux and i'm having some difficulties: i have installed first SUSE 10
and then Mandrake 10.1 and with both i have the same weird problem :
when i open the command line to log in as a root , i can type my name
but not the password , the cursur is there its flashing but i cannot type anything.
Everywhere else i can type whatever i want, so its not the keyboard.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[fingal]

Hi there

Can I ask how you are trying to log in as root? Are you typing:

su

on the command line? Thought it was worth asking the basics. A typical log-in would be:

$fingals_box: su
<enter your password>
#fingals_box: ls -al

I listed all my files or something similar.

[gm__]

Well when i open the command line with ctrl-alt-f1 he ask me right away
"local host login"

By the way is there a way for automatic login for administrator?

[fingal]

Well when i open the command line with ctrl-alt-f1 he ask me right away
"local host login"

By the way is there a way for automatic login for administrator?

I think you can choose to log-in automatically under the 'Boot Options' section of 'Configure Your Computer'. But I think you are confusing the 'command line' (within a terminal) with your initial log-in.

When you set up your system to start with you should supply some passwords to use later on: your root password and your user log-in.

I don't advise logging into your gui as root. That can lead to a lot of problems, and you would be better using root access from a terminal.

[gm__]

Thanks for your help Fingal, but now i'm more confused than before,
i dont even know what's the difference between a command line and a terminal , and which one should i use to install a software , i suppose both...

and if i type this "$gm__s_box: su" it gives me nothing

Anyway i will keep on searching, thanks again!

[fingal]

Thanks for your help Fingal, but now i'm more confused than before,
i dont even know what's the difference between a command line and a terminal , and which one should i use to install a software , i suppose both...

and if i type this "$gm__s_box: su" it gives me nothing

Anyway i will keep on searching, thanks again!

Hmm, I'm curious. Can you use any commands from there? Try typing ls -l Then hit Enter. Do you get output? I'd be surprised if you didn't, but I'd like to know anyway.

[cdean2005]

When you type your password the curser will not move, it is a security thing just type it and hit enter.www.linuxforums.com

[AlexK]

i dont even know what's the difference between a command line and a terminal , and which one should i use to install a software , i suppose both...

One way you can think of this is like so: Your graphical session is basicially run from the command line initially. A Terminal is like a "window" into the command line i.e. it lets you access the command line without quiting your graphical session.

And youd don't need to type: "$gm__s_box: su" Fingal was trying to illustrate what the command line/terminal shows as its default entry field i.e. the hostname.domainname of the computer followed by the comman. All you need to do is login as yourself, then execute "su" (without quotes) to get root access.

[gm__]

Guys i take a bow! It's working. Thanks a lot!

@Fingal , yes i get output , its ok now

@cdean2005 , thanks a lot man , now i'm logged in as su
it was something to know though , they could have noted it somewhere...

@AlexK thanks to you, i can see clearly now the rain has gone...

_________________________________________________
Its not that bad that Linux things if there are some nice guys willing to help
you / i was already on the point to throw it out by the window /

[muha]

On installing stuff:
1) most things you'll need are already installed on your system
2) usually newbies will start installing stuff with package-managers like yast or apt-get
(as i do )