Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 4

1,057 points

How can I login as root?

I have enabled the root user and I go to the login screen and tap other and type in "root" and my root password, and it looks like it's about to switch and then I get the login screen with all the icons.

This is all that shows up in the console:

7/19/12 3:32:46.092 PM SecurityAgent: User info context values set for root

Though I was getting this in the console before I rebooted:

authorizationhost: Failed to authenticate user <root> (error: 9).

I've tried disabling and re-enabling the root user but same problem. Anyone have any ideas how to fix this?

Posted on Jul 19, 2012 12:35 PM

22 replies

gujamin Author

Level 4

1,057 points

Jul 21, 2012 6:14 PM in response to Barney-15E

I can enable the root user, and I can log in using the terminal using the su command, however, I can't log in from the Login Window.

Creating another admin account was able to change the icons, but I had to paste it twice (odd) and the authentication dialog did come up. So good idea there; main problem solved. But that now makes me concerned about my primary user account... it came from a Migration Assistant move from my old computer.

Permissions:

Photovoltaic:~ ben$ ls -ale /Library/WebServer

total 48

drwxr-xr-x 13 root wheel 442 Jul 18 19:29 .

drwxr-xr-x+ 66 root wheel 2244 Jul 18 19:29 ..

0: group:everyone deny delete

-rw-rw-r--@ 1 ben admin 21508 Jul 19 14:28 .DS_Store

drwxr-xr-x 39 root wheel 1326 Jul 19 14:50 Documents

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,764 points

Jul 21, 2012 6:24 PM in response to gujamin

As I thought, the permissions are fine. It is your user account.

The only thing I can think of that might help you is to disable the admin priviliges on your bad account, then re-enable them. You'll have to do that from the new Admin account. Maybe that will reset something that will give you the correct permissions.

gujamin Author

Level 4

1,057 points

Jul 24, 2012 10:52 AM in response to Barney-15E

Awesome! That seemed to fix my icon pasting issues. I still wish I could log in as root through... Perhaps Mountain Lion will fix that.

gujamin Author

Level 4

1,057 points

Jul 26, 2012 7:51 AM in response to Barney-15E

I just upgraded to Mountain Lion thinking maybe this would fix the issue. That icon reverted. No big deal. Went to try and replace it and no dice! Tried from the other new Admin account and no dice there either!

Also tried logging in as root and the same gray screen -> Login screen happened again!

Anyone else seeing this? Suggestions?

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,764 points

Jul 26, 2012 11:11 AM in response to gujamin

Have you tried resetting your home folder permissions?

In Recovery HD, open Terminal from utlities menu.

Type resetpassword

Select your HD, then your user name.

Click the button to reset home folder permissions and ACLs.

Then, exit Recovery and restart.

Since you have a problem within your user account, reinstalling the OS usually will not fix that since the os doesn't touch the user folders.

gujamin Author

Level 4

1,057 points

Jul 29, 2012 9:28 AM in response to Barney-15E

I was able to get the icon changed from my account by doing Get Info, adding myself as another user under sharing and permissions with read and write access and then I was able to paste the icon.

Still no dice logging in as root though (going to try the Recovery HD thing in a bit).

idenizen

Level 1

25 points

Nov 6, 2012 3:59 PM in response to gujamin

Yes, same problem with the gray screen.

How can I login as root?