by batvink » Tue Nov 29, 2011 22:03
Logging into an X session as root is giving up control, not gaining control.
The default desktop for the root user is sparse and nearly unusable on purpose.
Running the entire gui desktop environemnt as root is completely unecessary and very dangerous.,
But if you really need to use the desktop as the root user, use 'startx -- :1' which will start up a new x-session alongside your regular user one.
Use CTRL-ALT-F5 or CTRL-ALT-F6 to switch between the x displays)
but remember, doing so:
1) opens you up to several different security problems,
2) too many too easy ways to damage your system no matter how careful
your actions (example: just browsing in your home directory while
logged into KDE/Gnome/etc as root can lock you out later as yourself
due to permissions damage),
3) and, anyway logging into KDE/etc as root is *never* required to do any and all administrative duties..