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I'm new to Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. My problem is described below.

My terminal prompt is the $ sign only. It's not showing like kaushik-kaushik-pc -$.

My second problem is that when I try to become the super user by sudo su, it prompts for my password but after that, it shows Authentication Fail.

When I'm trying to use previous commands by using the ↑ key, it prints this ^[[a, nor does it work for the ← or → keys.

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  • I have also experienced that but in a guest account, check to make sure you are using an account with privilege.
    – tmwanik
    Mar 3, 2013 at 11:34
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    Welcome to Ask Ubuntu! It is preferred if you can post separate questions instead of combining your questions into one. That way, it helps the people answering your question and also others hunting for atleast one of your questions. Thanks!
    – guntbert
    Mar 3, 2013 at 19:07
  • We need more information: please edit your question and show us the output of id.
    – guntbert
    Mar 4, 2013 at 20:29

1 Answer 1

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I am answering only the authentication question.

sudo su is completely unnecessary.

For a single command (like cat /etc/shadow) you just type sudo cat /etc/shadow and then you give your own password. This will by default only be possible for the first user (the one created during installation).

If you are really convinced that you need a real root shell then type sudo -i, run the commands you need and don't forget to leave that shell again by pressing CTRLD.

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  • When i'm typing 'sudo -i' it is giving an error message: sudo: /bin/bash: command not found.
    – Kaushik Kishore
    Mar 4, 2013 at 8:19

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