clone root user?

grod · 2008-11-11 02:39:09

I have almost everything configured, except as root. How can I clone all my settings to a less priveledged account? Copying the content of /root to /home/grod doesn't quite do the trick.

Thanks!

fukawi2 · 2008-11-11 02:49:12

Did you change to ownership of the file to your username using 'chown'?

What's the exact error you're coming across?

grod · 2008-11-11 03:43:06

Not an error, but things like XFCE session settings revert to defaults.

syntaxerrormmm · 2008-11-11 08:25:35

Not a great idea to configure with root's, please forget Windozer, you're running GNU/Linux And never, ever ever ever launch X with root.

Apart of philosophy (and security) issues in your management, changing ownership and permissions on the files you've copied should do the trick. Magical words are chmod and chown, please check with the manpages.

Regards,

peets · 2008-11-11 16:08:28

as root:

chown -R username:users /home/username

(replace 'username' with your user's name)
But of course,

man chown

Brownster · 2008-11-11 22:53:57

grod wrote:

Not an error, but things like XFCE session settings revert to defaults.

Hi,
when you copied the files,did you use the -a flag ? sounds like you are missing the hidden files beginning with a .

Cheers,
Wayne.

grod · 2008-11-12 03:23:08

I wish it were that simple. When I kill X there are a ton of xfce critical warnings on the screen. They all take the same patter:
(xfce4-menu-plugin:4612): libxfce4util-CRITICAL **: Unable to open file /root/.config/xfce/panel/systray-4.rc.4606.tmp for writing: Permission denied

and

(xfce4-panel:4606): libxfce4util-CRITICAL **: Unable to open file /root/.config/xfce4/panel/clock-14.rc.4606.tmp for writing: Permission denied

tons of those.

Clearly, there is a path somewhere that needs to change. I'd like to make every configuration file used by the root account for all applications the default for all less privileged users -- theme, start up apps, bash aliases, everything. But I'd settle for transferring the XFCE settings.

Any ideas?

Brownster · 2008-11-12 09:07:09

I was going to suggest writing a script to replace the strings within the config files, however, since temporary files are created and used too, that would appear to make it more problematic.
What you are trying to do seems like quite a reasonable idea, perhaps the xfce writers might have a suggestion?
Sorry I cannot be anymore help.

Cheers,
Wayne.

pyther · 2008-11-12 13:11:51

Did you copy the the '.' folders and files over?
If so did your chown the files/folders?

for example cp -r /root/.xfce4 /home/user

grod · 2008-11-12 23:48:57

yes to both

.:B:. · 2008-11-13 17:55:52

Why did you configure everything as root instead of as a regular user in the first place?

It's probably a lot simpler to create a whole new user and start from scratch there. It takes some time, but bumping your head into the wall is the best way to learn .

Last edited by B (2008-11-13 18:02:12)

pyther · 2008-11-14 03:33:58

I wouldn't be surprised if some of your configs are referencing the /root/ path still

I'd just do what B suggested and start from scratch

Arch Linux

#1 2008-11-11 02:39:09

clone root user?

#2 2008-11-11 02:49:12

Re: clone root user?

#3 2008-11-11 03:43:06

Re: clone root user?

#4 2008-11-11 08:25:35

Re: clone root user?

#5 2008-11-11 16:08:28

Re: clone root user?

#6 2008-11-11 22:53:57

Re: clone root user?

#7 2008-11-12 03:23:08

Re: clone root user?

#8 2008-11-12 09:07:09

Re: clone root user?

#9 2008-11-12 13:11:51

Re: clone root user?

#10 2008-11-12 23:48:57

Re: clone root user?

#11 2008-11-13 17:55:52

Re: clone root user?

#12 2008-11-14 03:33:58

Re: clone root user?

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