root: Authentication failure ! + Authentication token manipulation error !

[jenom]

WattOS R8 64 bit MATE desktop , I am having problem with ROOT/PASSWORD access

root@lenovo:/home/abcd# su
su: Authentication failure
(Ignored)
root@lenovo:/home/abcd# whoami
root

root@lenovo:/home/abcd# sudo su
su: Authentication failure
(Ignored)
root@lenovo:/home/abcd# whoami
root
root@lenovo:/home/jeno#


It gives me root access, but what is that error message ?

When I try to create/change a password for "root", this is what happens:

root@lenovo:/home/abcd# passwd root
Enter new UNIX password:
Retype new UNIX password:
passwd: Authentication token manipulation error
passwd: password unchanged

Something wrong going on here for sure !

Thanks!

[leenie]

http://planetwatt.com/newforum/index.php?topic=164.msg478#msg478

[jenom]

I am familiar with :

gksu-properties and then change su back to sudo

and already done it

an original debian installation creates two accounts:

1)a "root" account with  a "root" password
2)   "user"  account  with "user" password

in WATTOS, the "su, sudo, gksu" gives  an "user"  root  privileges temporarily
it seems like, there is no "root" account set up or its broken

[biffster]

Take a look at this thread Jenom and see if answers your situation...read from the top down...tks

http://planetwatt.com/newforum/index.php?topic=47.msg160#msg160

Read the whole thread please....as it also addresses shadow passwords and other things even if the first part of the thread does not exactly apply.

tks
biff