How to setup Root with password?

[pupgg]

Bionicpup64
How do I setup root and root password in terminal and/or using GUI? (So I can change menu.lst in Grub4dos.)
My terminal only accepts bash commands, so please show the full bash command. My terminal looks like this:
root#

[mikewalsh]

@pupgg :- Hallo, and to the "kennels".

There's no need to set anything. Unlike mainstream distros, Puppy is a single-user system, and runs as 'root' by default. No need to set any passwords, because they're not necessary.

You CAN set Puppy up to require a password - if you think that'll make you feel "safer" - though it's really not necessary; Puppy's unique mode of operation (booting from read-only files) means it's fairly secure OOTB.

Others can fill you in if you still want this.

Mike.

[rockedge]

In a terminal:

Code: Select all

passwd

2021-09-19-205100_490x108_scrot.png (958 Bytes) Viewed 3466 times

No characters will be seen when entering the password and the password confirmation

2021-09-19-205344_490x108_scrot.png (1.16 KiB) Viewed 3464 times

[bigpup]

That is how to change the password, but that is all you do.

Are you really asking how to make Bionicpup boot asking for a password?

So I can change menu.lst in Grub4dos

What are you trying to do?

[pupgg]

Script in menu.lst seems to ignore bionicpup64 cd & force 32b kernel in.
Changed the script part to correct kernel bionicpup64. But i386-pc part is loaded in boot procedure ("trampoline 32", probably).
Script part from menu.lst in Grub4dos:
"title Find Grub2\nBoot up grub2 if installed
errorcheck off
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /boot/grub/i386-pc/core.img
kernel /boot/grub/i386-pc/core.img
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /boot/grub/core.img
kernel /boot/grub/core.img
errorcheck on"

[pupgg]

Reason I wanna change to 64b kernel is that this Mac 2,1 is 64b not 32b.

[bigpup]

I still do not understand what you are trying to do.

You have Bionicpup64 8.0 installed on a CD and trying to boot the computer with it?

I am guessing.
If you already have a 32bit version of Puppy, on the internal drive, and have been booting it, using Grub4dos menu.lst?
That Grub4dos boot loader is not going to boot a Bionicpup64 on a CD.

Again what exactly are you trying to do?

Forget the menu.lst right now.

Tell us specifically what you are trying to do?

[williams2]

Are you trying to edit a file in a cd or in an iso file?

iso9660 file systems are read only.

Are you trying to do something and then it asks fo a password?
What exactly did you do when it asked for a password?

[pupgg]

I have a full install of bionicpup64 in a double core 3gb ram, 2,1 Macbook 2007 160gb ssd Toshiba. Requires EFI boot image to boot any OS.

[pupgg]

I am trying to edit in my fully installed Bionicpup64 according to advice in Grub4dos to edit menu.lst and Advanced.lst.
Strange that the iso 9660 is read only; makes Root useless or close to it, or not?

[pupgg]

It has never asked for password

[pupgg]

Trying to use 64b kernel(, but seems 32b is forced into it).
After wrongfully installed 32b i386 into my old 64b Macbook,
it has crashed several times, and other problems, too (see below).
Bionicpup 32bit & Bionicpup64 are the only distros accepted to be installed now.
Puppy Package installer wont install Nano terminal to show in GUI or anywhere in the system.

[mikewalsh]

Y'know, that actually makes no sense at all.

Every 64-bit CPU ever built has 32-bit (x86) registers as the 'base' components, with 64-bit (x86_64) 'extension' registers to give it access to 64-bit code when running in what's called 'long' mode. All modern CPUs will automatically switch between the two, depending on what they find when the OS code starts to load.

What's far more likely is that Crapple has no doubt deliberately disabled x86-only functionality via some dysfunctional hacking in the machine's BIOS; they went out of their way to deliberately force the "faithful" into using 64-bit only. After a specific update, that was it; any 32-bit software you may have previously used was then toast.....

It's always been about form OVER function since Saint Jobs has been at the helm. Despite being the world's richest company, after the recent long-running string of hardware foul-ups at Apple, it's no wonder Cupertino is steadily losing any shred of credibility it may have once had.....

Jobs couldn't care less so long as those greenbacks keep rolling in.

(*shrug...*)

Mike.

[williams2]

If you are booting Puppy each time using a Puppy cd disc
then you can not edit (change) menu.lst or any file on the cd disc.
The file system on the cd disc is read only.

If you are booting Puppy each time using a Puppy cd disc
the boot process is using the boot configuration file (like menu.lst, but maybe it is isolinux.cfg)
and is using the vmlinux kernel file on the d disc.

You can change the files on a cd by using a program like isomaster to change and save a new iso file with your changes. Then you would burn a new cd disc using the new iso file.

If you have Puppy installed using a full install, you should not be booting using the cd disc.
If you have Puppy installed using a full install, you should be able to edit the menu.lst file and copy files like the vmlinuz kernel file. You do not need to use or to setup a password, to be able to change files on your hard drive.

As @bigpup says, if you have a 32bit Pup installed and you are booting it using grub, it is not booting BionicPup64 on a cd disc. You need to boot the cd by changing the boot order in the bios to boot the cd first, or you need to choose to boot using the boot manager, then select to boot from the cd disc.

[bigpup]

If you have Bionicpup64 as full install on the internal drive.

That you need to change to having it a frugal install. It is still the complete OS, just a special way to install.
Some features of Puppy Linux only work as a frugal install.

If you only want Bionicpup64 on the internal drive.

Boot the computer with the Bionicpup64 CD.
Do everything running programs in it.

Two ways to go.
Stick with the partition and format setup on the internal drive or completely redo the partitions and format.

Really need to know what it has for partitions and format to give best advice.

Lets hope it is setup OK.

Use Rox file manager and delete all files/folders (everything) on the internal drive.
Just keep the partitions as they are.
If there is more than one partition.
Pick the biggest one to install to.

Us the Puppy Universal installer to do a frugal install of Bionicpup64 on the internal drive.
Do not let the program install a boot loader.

Run the program Grub4dos Bootloader Config to install a boot loader.
Select the internal drive as device to install to.
Select search only this device.
That is all you have to select.
(default settings for everything else, usually do not need changing)
Just keep selecting OK, until it completes.

Now shutdown the Bionicpup64 CD.
Remove it from computer.
Start computer.
Select in the computers bios boot setup to have internal drive as first boot device. or select it from boot device selection menu.
May not need to do this, if it default s to booting from internal drive.

Should see a boot menu with selection to boot Bionicpup64
Select it.
Should boot to working desktop of Bionicpup64.

If still an issue.
Need to be specific on what did not work.

[pupgg]

WOW !
Definitely newbie friendly.
dos not gpt. Thus Grub4dos.
I guess it is 3 things messing it up:
1. Apple (as you described over, and before that added a "bug" mentioned elsewhere. Btw: Most Mac commands online dont work in old Macs).
-comment: left MS cos was "charged for thinking"; opening files". Came to Apple & started to leave it, but met protectionism as an "art".
Good: Bionicpup is in my Mac (2007, no battery).
Contrast to Windows: Tried & failed "Linuxing" a Lenovo Ideapad; it was (Lenovo+MS made) too close to impossible.
MS stretched out a hand to Linux recently. Sinking giant grabbing for straws, or plan to kill & eat Linux? Probably all 3.
2. Full, not frugal install.
3. My general lack of knowledge.

I will carry through the described procedure, and come back with a report. This is really interesting. Thanks a lot !

[pupgg]

/dev/sda1 /mnt/sda1 512M Format: ext4 Label: Grub Flag: boot
/dev/sda2 /mnt/sda2 1G " fat32 " EFI " esp
/dev/sda3 / 148G ext4
/dev/sda4 1,2G Linux swap

[pupgg]

Hi.
Thanks a lot; it works.
Was searching a bit to find the sr0 (dvd, in filesystem, dev), then skied straight through.
Seems Grub4Dos is in sda1(ext4), and frugal installed Bionicpup64 (& saved session of bionicpup64) in sda3(ext4).
Sda2 (fat32 with EFI, flagged esp) is unnecessary, probably. Don't see any point of changing to other distro; this seems best for this old Mac, and I like the instructions talk understandable English.
If you need translations English to Norwegian, please tell, or give a link. Guess I'd learn a bit while translating.
Gunnar Gervin

[bigpup]

You could start over fresh and use Gparted program to setup the partitions a better way.
Delete all partitions.

Make two partitions.
1st one, using most of the drive unallocated space, formatted ext4, flagged boot.
2nd one, using rest of unallocated space, as a swap partition.

Do the install of Bionicpup64 as a frugal install to the ext 4 partition.
Install Grub4dos boot loader to drive.