Log in with the root account

Question

How do I log on to my root account when I turn on my computer instead of logging on as an ordinary user? This means that when I log in with my root account, any software is opened by default root and has all the rights to the file.

Answer 1

I'll give you an answer, but first here's a warning.

It's dangerous to do this, and usually not recommended at all; you're better off using sudo. I myself have had my system destroyed this way when I was kind of new to Linux.

However, here's how you do this if you really want to risk a broken system:

1. Fire up a terminal
2. Execute sudo -i
3. Enter your password
4. Run passwd
5. Enter a secure password for the root user (different from your main user)
6. Repeat the password
7. Run nano /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf(replace nano with the text editor of your choice)

8. Add:

   [SeatDefaults]
   greeter-session=unity-greeter
   user-session=ubuntu
   greeter-show-manual-login=true
   

   to the bottom of said file.

If you followed these steps you should be able to login as root, but as I said before: don't do this if you don't know what can go wrong.

Source: configserverfirewall.com

Answer 2

Its also possible to add your "ordinary user" to groups, that would allow you to edit files. Like, say, add to apache group, if you play with /etc/apache files. Alternatively, you can change the owner of the files you need, with chown 'ordinary user' /etc/apache/conf... - use with caution ( dont do chown ... /etc/* :-)