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authentication is required to change user data


Mutilple Authenticate Windows after unlocking Ubuntu 14.10 ( using gnome metacity)Authentication token manipulation error when I try to change passwordCannot authenticate without a passwordCannot turn off passwordPassword Authentication ProblemsAuthentication failed with the correct password and now I cannot use sudo anymoreHow to change administrator password?Authentication with admin password problemUbuntu 14.04.1 howto set a short non complex password for very kiddies?Single user forgot password can't do updatesadmin passwd lost






.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;








-2















I set administrator password to blank. Now, I can't install new programs (message see in title), or change the admin password ("change" button grayed out). I tried a suggested fix from inside the terminal, but can't type anything into the sudo authentication field.










share|improve this question

















  • 1





    The sudo authentication field should stay completely blank as you type. It never displays asterisks, even

    – hexafraction
    Nov 24 '12 at 0:52







  • 1





    How did you set the administrator password to blank? "administrator" is a term used on Windows, on Linux we have a root user, and users with administrator privileges, so it's unclear what you mean.

    – Flimm
    Nov 26 '12 at 14:33

















-2















I set administrator password to blank. Now, I can't install new programs (message see in title), or change the admin password ("change" button grayed out). I tried a suggested fix from inside the terminal, but can't type anything into the sudo authentication field.










share|improve this question

















  • 1





    The sudo authentication field should stay completely blank as you type. It never displays asterisks, even

    – hexafraction
    Nov 24 '12 at 0:52







  • 1





    How did you set the administrator password to blank? "administrator" is a term used on Windows, on Linux we have a root user, and users with administrator privileges, so it's unclear what you mean.

    – Flimm
    Nov 26 '12 at 14:33













-2












-2








-2








I set administrator password to blank. Now, I can't install new programs (message see in title), or change the admin password ("change" button grayed out). I tried a suggested fix from inside the terminal, but can't type anything into the sudo authentication field.










share|improve this question














I set administrator password to blank. Now, I can't install new programs (message see in title), or change the admin password ("change" button grayed out). I tried a suggested fix from inside the terminal, but can't type anything into the sudo authentication field.







password authentication






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Nov 23 '12 at 23:20









arminmarminm

111




111







  • 1





    The sudo authentication field should stay completely blank as you type. It never displays asterisks, even

    – hexafraction
    Nov 24 '12 at 0:52







  • 1





    How did you set the administrator password to blank? "administrator" is a term used on Windows, on Linux we have a root user, and users with administrator privileges, so it's unclear what you mean.

    – Flimm
    Nov 26 '12 at 14:33












  • 1





    The sudo authentication field should stay completely blank as you type. It never displays asterisks, even

    – hexafraction
    Nov 24 '12 at 0:52







  • 1





    How did you set the administrator password to blank? "administrator" is a term used on Windows, on Linux we have a root user, and users with administrator privileges, so it's unclear what you mean.

    – Flimm
    Nov 26 '12 at 14:33







1




1





The sudo authentication field should stay completely blank as you type. It never displays asterisks, even

– hexafraction
Nov 24 '12 at 0:52






The sudo authentication field should stay completely blank as you type. It never displays asterisks, even

– hexafraction
Nov 24 '12 at 0:52





1




1





How did you set the administrator password to blank? "administrator" is a term used on Windows, on Linux we have a root user, and users with administrator privileges, so it's unclear what you mean.

– Flimm
Nov 26 '12 at 14:33





How did you set the administrator password to blank? "administrator" is a term used on Windows, on Linux we have a root user, and users with administrator privileges, so it's unclear what you mean.

– Flimm
Nov 26 '12 at 14:33










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















2














OK, there's two parts to this. First, to answer the question you asked:



Reboot into single user mode (see http://www.debuntu.org/recover-root-password-single-user-mode-and-grub if you don't know how) and set the password for root.



However, I don't think that will solve your actual problem. It sounds like the real problem is that the account you normally log in as is not a member of the sudo group - the root account on Ubuntu normally does not have a password, and is not allowed to log in directly. So, instead, I would recommend that you boot into single user mode as outlined above, then issue the following commands:



adduser youraccountname sudo
passwd youraccountname
shutdown -r now


This will make sure that your user is allowed to become root, and will make sure that your user has a password which you can use when prompted. Once the machine finishes rebooting (the third command there), everything should be back to normal.






share|improve this answer






























    0














    I had the same problem. Run the following commands in your terminal:
    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get upgrade






    share|improve this answer






























      -1














      If you didn't ever set up a password you do not have to recover it but you just have to create it in System settings/User Account. There, click on Password.



      So, let's create a new password that you will use as administrator for upgrading, installations and others. In few words, if you didn't ever create a password, create your password and use it when required.



      Greetings, Bagsmi.






      share|improve this answer

























      • He can't run it as root unless he's in single user mode, chroot or another root shell...

        – Dominic Hayes
        May 1 '16 at 16:38











      Your Answer








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      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes








      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      2














      OK, there's two parts to this. First, to answer the question you asked:



      Reboot into single user mode (see http://www.debuntu.org/recover-root-password-single-user-mode-and-grub if you don't know how) and set the password for root.



      However, I don't think that will solve your actual problem. It sounds like the real problem is that the account you normally log in as is not a member of the sudo group - the root account on Ubuntu normally does not have a password, and is not allowed to log in directly. So, instead, I would recommend that you boot into single user mode as outlined above, then issue the following commands:



      adduser youraccountname sudo
      passwd youraccountname
      shutdown -r now


      This will make sure that your user is allowed to become root, and will make sure that your user has a password which you can use when prompted. Once the machine finishes rebooting (the third command there), everything should be back to normal.






      share|improve this answer



























        2














        OK, there's two parts to this. First, to answer the question you asked:



        Reboot into single user mode (see http://www.debuntu.org/recover-root-password-single-user-mode-and-grub if you don't know how) and set the password for root.



        However, I don't think that will solve your actual problem. It sounds like the real problem is that the account you normally log in as is not a member of the sudo group - the root account on Ubuntu normally does not have a password, and is not allowed to log in directly. So, instead, I would recommend that you boot into single user mode as outlined above, then issue the following commands:



        adduser youraccountname sudo
        passwd youraccountname
        shutdown -r now


        This will make sure that your user is allowed to become root, and will make sure that your user has a password which you can use when prompted. Once the machine finishes rebooting (the third command there), everything should be back to normal.






        share|improve this answer

























          2












          2








          2







          OK, there's two parts to this. First, to answer the question you asked:



          Reboot into single user mode (see http://www.debuntu.org/recover-root-password-single-user-mode-and-grub if you don't know how) and set the password for root.



          However, I don't think that will solve your actual problem. It sounds like the real problem is that the account you normally log in as is not a member of the sudo group - the root account on Ubuntu normally does not have a password, and is not allowed to log in directly. So, instead, I would recommend that you boot into single user mode as outlined above, then issue the following commands:



          adduser youraccountname sudo
          passwd youraccountname
          shutdown -r now


          This will make sure that your user is allowed to become root, and will make sure that your user has a password which you can use when prompted. Once the machine finishes rebooting (the third command there), everything should be back to normal.






          share|improve this answer













          OK, there's two parts to this. First, to answer the question you asked:



          Reboot into single user mode (see http://www.debuntu.org/recover-root-password-single-user-mode-and-grub if you don't know how) and set the password for root.



          However, I don't think that will solve your actual problem. It sounds like the real problem is that the account you normally log in as is not a member of the sudo group - the root account on Ubuntu normally does not have a password, and is not allowed to log in directly. So, instead, I would recommend that you boot into single user mode as outlined above, then issue the following commands:



          adduser youraccountname sudo
          passwd youraccountname
          shutdown -r now


          This will make sure that your user is allowed to become root, and will make sure that your user has a password which you can use when prompted. Once the machine finishes rebooting (the third command there), everything should be back to normal.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Nov 23 '12 at 23:43









          Jim SalterJim Salter

          3,90011133




          3,90011133























              0














              I had the same problem. Run the following commands in your terminal:
              sudo apt-get update
              sudo apt-get upgrade






              share|improve this answer



























                0














                I had the same problem. Run the following commands in your terminal:
                sudo apt-get update
                sudo apt-get upgrade






                share|improve this answer

























                  0












                  0








                  0







                  I had the same problem. Run the following commands in your terminal:
                  sudo apt-get update
                  sudo apt-get upgrade






                  share|improve this answer













                  I had the same problem. Run the following commands in your terminal:
                  sudo apt-get update
                  sudo apt-get upgrade







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 17 mins ago









                  UbuntuUbuntu

                  13




                  13





















                      -1














                      If you didn't ever set up a password you do not have to recover it but you just have to create it in System settings/User Account. There, click on Password.



                      So, let's create a new password that you will use as administrator for upgrading, installations and others. In few words, if you didn't ever create a password, create your password and use it when required.



                      Greetings, Bagsmi.






                      share|improve this answer

























                      • He can't run it as root unless he's in single user mode, chroot or another root shell...

                        – Dominic Hayes
                        May 1 '16 at 16:38















                      -1














                      If you didn't ever set up a password you do not have to recover it but you just have to create it in System settings/User Account. There, click on Password.



                      So, let's create a new password that you will use as administrator for upgrading, installations and others. In few words, if you didn't ever create a password, create your password and use it when required.



                      Greetings, Bagsmi.






                      share|improve this answer

























                      • He can't run it as root unless he's in single user mode, chroot or another root shell...

                        – Dominic Hayes
                        May 1 '16 at 16:38













                      -1












                      -1








                      -1







                      If you didn't ever set up a password you do not have to recover it but you just have to create it in System settings/User Account. There, click on Password.



                      So, let's create a new password that you will use as administrator for upgrading, installations and others. In few words, if you didn't ever create a password, create your password and use it when required.



                      Greetings, Bagsmi.






                      share|improve this answer















                      If you didn't ever set up a password you do not have to recover it but you just have to create it in System settings/User Account. There, click on Password.



                      So, let's create a new password that you will use as administrator for upgrading, installations and others. In few words, if you didn't ever create a password, create your password and use it when required.



                      Greetings, Bagsmi.







                      share|improve this answer














                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer








                      edited Apr 27 '14 at 23:45









                      jkt123

                      2,6441321




                      2,6441321










                      answered Apr 27 '14 at 18:50









                      user275071user275071

                      1




                      1












                      • He can't run it as root unless he's in single user mode, chroot or another root shell...

                        – Dominic Hayes
                        May 1 '16 at 16:38

















                      • He can't run it as root unless he's in single user mode, chroot or another root shell...

                        – Dominic Hayes
                        May 1 '16 at 16:38
















                      He can't run it as root unless he's in single user mode, chroot or another root shell...

                      – Dominic Hayes
                      May 1 '16 at 16:38





                      He can't run it as root unless he's in single user mode, chroot or another root shell...

                      – Dominic Hayes
                      May 1 '16 at 16:38

















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