MBR protection

**Fatal Error** · 07-06-2005, 04:24 PM

Has anybody had problems install Linux over winders with MBR protection?

**Wildheart** · 07-06-2005, 06:06 PM

I think you can turn it off in the bios.

**Fatal Error** · 07-06-2005, 06:23 PM

Wildheart, we just installed a new HD but I would like to know if MBR protection would bork a Linux (Ubuntu) install.

**Wildheart** · 07-06-2005, 06:29 PM

Ya it will stop you from writing your boot loader. turn it off for the install.

**Fatal Error** · 07-06-2005, 08:53 PM

We were sure that was the problem. If we need that drive later, I will remember the MBR/BIOS solution!!!!!

Next problem, Full time root privilege in Ubuntu, need to change/move stuff and it won't let me!

**Wildheart** · 07-06-2005, 09:01 PM

open up a root terminal and use the "mv" and "cp" commands

like mv /mnt/dir/file.file /dir/to/move/to
or cp /mnt/dir/file.file /dir/to/copy/to

or type "passwd root" in root terminal and set a root password.
then go to System-administration-login screen setup then there's a setting in here to let root log in to Gnome. Then you Could move the stuff with a gui.

**mcangeli** · 07-06-2005, 09:16 PM

Fatal,

there is a way to add your user to the "wheel" group and then in one of the files, you can specify whether or not this user is allowed to be a superuser based on the groups (IE: if I'm a member of wheel then I have root privileges via sudo)

Let me see if I can find it.

Mark

**mcangeli** · 07-06-2005, 09:23 PM

Fatal,

as root type: visudo
and hit enter

Look for a line that looks like:

Code:

# Same thing without a password
# %wheel        ALL=&#40;ALL&#41;       NOPASSWD&#58; ALL

UNCOMMENT the %wheel line (remove the #)

Exit and save (should be the escape key, then a :x)

Now you need to add yourself to the wheel group.

Code:

usermod -g wheel USERNAME

ie: usermod -g wheel FatalError

That should do the trick

You should now be able to run anything root can run as your normal user by typing sudo infront of it.

http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-9890.html

**Fatal Error** · 07-06-2005, 10:09 PM

Rootise, That was a nifty fix.

I found another that adds a root login at the login screen. Ubuntu hides this feature from the non-geeks like me. Well you can guess what would happen if
us mere mortals were to get into the "works".

I am either going to start living on 3rd shift or you have to stop sleeping!

I am starting to do the Apache, PHP, MySQL thing in preparation for Moodle.
Living on the line, command line that is! w00t

And I owe it all to the f00.

**mcangeli** · 07-07-2005, 02:25 AM

heh, let me know if you need any help with that.

I could do it in my sleep and I have some suggestions on how it should be done now. (especially when you compile apache and php).

Mark