Terminal and X11-can't type in password - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

skinbag · 09-02-2003, 09:51 AM

Help! - I call on the CLI gods of this forum to come down and work on my behalf! Just name the sacrifice!...Hello....Helooooo?

Anyhow- I'm having trouble as a command-line newbie. I am working through Mac OSX unleashed, and the su and sudo commands that worked before now refuse to accept any input from the keyboard other than RETURN.
I have recently set up root, installed developer tools, X11, fink, fink commander, and then uninstalled fink commander, thinking the setuid function was messing things up. No dice. I can still unlock files via the GUI, so it seems to be strictly a CLI issue to me. I am new to this, so I assume only as much as I have to to work.
I am on a Mac Power PC G4 running OS version 10.2.6 and my CLI installs are all up to date from soundforge and apples app.s pages. Everything works except things that need passwords, like installing or using commander to install app.s.
I apologize if the solution is obvious. I have been regarding this as an opportunity to learn, but have checked out anything I could find and have waited for a reply from the OSX unleashed forum, but I'm not as confident in their replies ( if I got an answer that is) as I am in TFP's users. Here's to hope! Please?

giblfiz · 09-02-2003, 10:53 AM

Ok, I hav'nt worked too much with OSX, but I more or less live on the command line.

first off, I assume you already know that when type in the password it will not show your cursor, show it move or anything else.

try useing su to swich to another normal user. I recall there being something a little weird about osX trying to keep people out of the root account.

so try using your normal gui tools to make an accout for say user bob, with a password your sure of then from your normal account try
bash$ su bob
Password:

you know. I just looked it up.. apparently they don't let people log in as root, you need to use sudo. try
bash$ sudo bash
that should launch a shell that has root accsess in the window your working in.

oh you might also want to look at
bash$ which sudo

hope some of that helps

[EDIT]
this is probably better advice than I am giveing.
http://www.osxzone.com/static/hacks.html

skinbag · 09-02-2003, 11:02 AM

Thanks- That did it. I was not aware the cursor did not move, and I must have simply mis-typed and then freaked out after that, just looking for movement out of desperation. My new prime directive is "Slow Down and try again." My assumptions made an ass out of me..HeHe Thanks for your help. I'm so embarassed...Duuuhh! I'll bookmark the link. Thanks for that too.

09-02-2003, 09:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
skinbag Registered User Location: Madison WI	Terminal and X11-can't type in password Help! - I call on the CLI gods of this forum to come down and work on my behalf! Just name the sacrifice!...Hello....Helooooo? Anyhow- I'm having trouble as a command-line newbie. I am working through Mac OSX unleashed, and the su and sudo commands that worked before now refuse to accept any input from the keyboard other than RETURN. I have recently set up root, installed developer tools, X11, fink, fink commander, and then uninstalled fink commander, thinking the setuid function was messing things up. No dice. I can still unlock files via the GUI, so it seems to be strictly a CLI issue to me. I am new to this, so I assume only as much as I have to to work. I am on a Mac Power PC G4 running OS version 10.2.6 and my CLI installs are all up to date from soundforge and apples app.s pages. Everything works except things that need passwords, like installing or using commander to install app.s. I apologize if the solution is obvious. I have been regarding this as an opportunity to learn, but have checked out anything I could find and have waited for a reply from the OSX unleashed forum, but I'm not as confident in their replies ( if I got an answer that is) as I am in TFP's users. Here's to hope! Please?

09-02-2003, 10:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
giblfiz is a shoggoth Location: LA	Ok, I hav'nt worked too much with OSX, but I more or less live on the command line. first off, I assume you already know that when type in the password it will not show your cursor, show it move or anything else. try useing su to swich to another normal user. I recall there being something a little weird about osX trying to keep people out of the root account. so try using your normal gui tools to make an accout for say user bob, with a password your sure of then from your normal account try bash$ su bob Password: you know. I just looked it up.. apparently they don't let people log in as root, you need to use sudo. try bash$ sudo bash that should launch a shell that has root accsess in the window your working in. oh you might also want to look at bash$ which sudo hope some of that helps [EDIT] this is probably better advice than I am giveing. http://www.osxzone.com/static/hacks.html __________________ Use the star one and you'll be fighting off the old ones with your bare hands -A Shoggoth on the Roof Last edited by giblfiz; 09-02-2003 at 10:55 AM..

09-02-2003, 11:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
skinbag Registered User Location: Madison WI	Thanks- That did it. I was not aware the cursor did not move, and I must have simply mis-typed and then freaked out after that, just looking for movement out of desperation. My new prime directive is "Slow Down and try again." My assumptions made an ass out of me..HeHe Thanks for your help. I'm so embarassed...Duuuhh! I'll bookmark the link. Thanks for that too.