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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.

clcraft
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    Please install another operating system if you want that; like debian. Ubuntu is set to be used with "sudo" including correct, traceable, logging. Yes, it is possible but that does not mean it is a good idea. – Rinzwind May 24 '18 at 11:35
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    Please promise you won't ask how to recover accidentally deleted files, dropped packages and messed up configurations. – PerlDuck May 24 '18 at 11:36
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    There is a reason that this is not possible. I don't want to be rude but.....It's like asking if you could bring your dog to a store and there is a sign in front of the store which clearly states, No dogs allowed! And you still keep asking how you could bring your dog. My opinion matches that of rinzwind. Please use another operating system. – s1mmel May 24 '18 at 12:23

2 Answers2

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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

TheRealProcyon
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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/* :-)

Holger Morgen
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