Root password?

[JackBW]

I wasn't paying particular--or ANY--attention to this when I first installed Mint, but I only recall being asked to establish a USER name and password during that process; I don't recall ROOT being covered as a separate matter during install. So my question is, what password does root use by default, the same as the USER's? I see now where I can change either one separately in the terminal, and of course I always have logged in--and been online--as <USERNAME>, but I don't know how root's identity was initially set up. I'm assuming both would initially use <USERNAME>'s password, since I only ever provided ONE. How does this work?

[ShexNivis]

Hello there,
root account is disabled by default, to run a command as root you can preceded it with 'sudo' ex: sudo apt-get install firefox.
This is a good thing for security since only users in the admin group have access to use 'sudo'. For more information please take a look at: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo
and if you would like to enable root account take a look at http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=90&t=2355
I would sugest you to NOT do it since I think 'sudo' approach is safer.
Good Luck,
André~

[emorrp1]

actually, as of Gloria root is enabled by default (useful for the recovery console) and uses the user password you entered on install.

[ShexNivis]

My bad then, used to ubuntu. Anyway you can use the sudo approach or the su : )

[JackBW]

Thanks. Clearer now. HOWEVER, I changed the password for <user> and now when I bootup, I get a box "Enter password for default keyring to unlock"...and only the OLD password works in that box. Can't get past that.

[JackBW]

Never mind. Just got the answer from ComputerBob.com. The guy there saved my mother's Mint PC recently. Great guy.