Can't edit with gedit when root

Mr. Alex · 2010-10-05 15:42:01

If I do "su" and then try to edit something with gedit, it returns:

# gedit /etc/inittab 

(gedit:6485): EggSMClient-WARNING **: Failed to connect to the session manager: None of the authentication protocols specified are supported

and I can't edit it. It works with leafpad though. I found some URLs with similar problems but they don't help...
https://www.redhat.com/archives/redhat- … 00997.html
http://osdir.com/ml/debian-bugs-dist/20 … 09779.html
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse/2009 … 01911.html

Please help me to fix it.

skunktrader · 2010-10-05 15:46:29

gksu gedit /etc/inittab

Last edited by skunktrader (2010-10-05 15:47:59)

ngoonee · 2010-10-05 21:42:39

Generally speaking apps (like gedit I guess) which require dbus connections etc. won't work with su -

Some env variables that you need aren't exported. Use sudo in those cases.

quigybo · 2010-10-06 11:56:19

ngoonee wrote:

Some env variables that you need aren't exported. Use sudo in those cases.

Even sudo won't export all environment variables, in that case you need sudo -E.

Last edited by quigybo (2010-10-06 11:57:38)

falconindy · 2010-10-06 13:02:48

Or just use the proper tool (gksu/kdesu) because even sudo won't export everything in every case. Plenty of evidence of this on the Ubuntu forums when someone decides that launching firefox with sudo is an awesome idea and changes permissions on $HOME/.mozilla.

Mr. Alex · 2010-10-06 13:53:31

ngoonee wrote:

Generally speaking apps (like gedit I guess) which require dbus connections etc. won't work with su -
Some env variables that you need aren't exported. Use sudo in those cases.

But it worked just a few days ago before last upgrade. That's strange... Why did it work?
And gedit works perfectly with sudo, not a single error.

Last edited by Mr. Alex (2010-10-06 13:54:50)

while · 2010-12-26 01:22:44

Sorry for reviving an old thread...

Anyone know what is happening with this error?? I just installed a new system and experience this error when trying to edit files with emacs as root.

Been searching now for some time and I guess it's related to dbus but everyone seems to think its acceptable since it's not directly related to Arch. I'm on Gentoo as well and I've not seen this error there. It's looks quite serious to me if you can't edit files as root without using sudo or some weird login session.

anonymous_user · 2010-12-26 02:28:58

Does using gksudo not work?

Mr. Alex · 2010-12-26 09:15:41

while, you can edit with gedit when logged in as "su -".

while · 2010-12-26 09:19:23

I don't have it installed. I don't like typing sudo in front of every command I want to run so I normally only log in as root do what I need to do and log out.

If I log in as root in a shell using "su -" it works but gives me some other errors. It doesn't run my .bashrc then either. Seems weired that you need to do this to use GUI version of emacs though.

Isn't there any package you can install/downgrade manually to fix this? Which update started this problem? I was working fine on my old arch laptop.

edit: same with gedit as emacs btw

Last edited by while (2010-12-26 10:04:25)

Arch Linux

#1 2010-10-05 15:42:01

Can't edit with gedit when root

#2 2010-10-05 15:46:29

Re: Can't edit with gedit when root

#3 2010-10-05 21:42:39

Re: Can't edit with gedit when root

#4 2010-10-06 11:56:19

Re: Can't edit with gedit when root

#5 2010-10-06 13:02:48

Re: Can't edit with gedit when root

#6 2010-10-06 13:53:31

Re: Can't edit with gedit when root

#7 2010-12-26 01:22:44

Re: Can't edit with gedit when root

#8 2010-12-26 02:28:58

Re: Can't edit with gedit when root

#9 2010-12-26 09:15:41

Re: Can't edit with gedit when root

#10 2010-12-26 09:19:23

Re: Can't edit with gedit when root

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