Linux command prompt

Question

im sorry, youll have to excuse that im a linux noob

OS: Linux Ubuntu 7.1

when im gonna go install a program it always ask for the password but i cant enter it, like i type but nothing shows up till i presss enter but then it tells me invalid password

thanks

Answer 1

Quick answer: type in man passwd into your console and read the output

Long answer: You won't see anything as you type, but it is registering the password you're typing in.

If you don't know your root password, look online for the default one for the specific livecd or distro disc you installed from.

If there isn't one, you can usually do this to set your password

sudo su

passwd yourname

# follow the instructions

exit

(you might want to set the root password too, like this)

sudo su

passwd

# follow the instructions

exit

(also, to prevent people from being able to become the superuser again the way you just did, do this)

sudo su

EDITOR=/bin/vi visudo

#in the screen that pops up, press the "j" key until you are one line

#above your username (press "k" to move back up if you go down too

#far), and then type in the following keys, in order,

# with no spaces: J C : w q

exit

Answer 2

lmao

when it ask for ur password....type it

it doesnt show what ur typing for security reason.

so type it in then press enter !!!

:)

Answer 3

the characters won't show up as you type them.  Just type the root users password and press enter.  If it says invalid password, you entered it wrong.