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I cannot install new plug in to my linux computer. It keeps asking authentication required that needs a password. I do not know what the password is. Pls help me identify the problem or remove the restrictions so that I could install any application freely and easily.

Blessie
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1 Answers1

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I feel awkward coaching you through cracking a password but here is a first attempt:

I presume you must be somehow logging into the system as some user. (When you bought the computer, did they create an account for you? Or did you just start to use an account that they had previously used - that feels wrong, a bit like a second-hand toothbrush)

Assuming you have your own account or you are using one they gave you, there is a chance that it is privileged to execute commands as super-user (sudo command). I suggest you give that a try:

$ whoami
DrSAR
$ sudo passwd   # this will change the root passwd
[sudo] password for DrSAR:       # enter your user password
Enter new UNIX password:         # this is the new root password
Retype new UNIX password:        # try to get it right a second time
passwd: password updated successfully

If you do not have super user privileges, there are other ways to at least overwrite the root password. However, if you acquired the computer rightfully, they should give you the root password.

DrSAR
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