[Bug 1153901] Re: su should exit with a message that root is locked

[Byron Hawkins]

If there isn't a root password, I don't think the system should ever
prompt the user for a root password. Check the web, tons of people find
this alarming and are convinced they are locked out of root. Whether it
makes sense or not, this is what people do experience and they are
reporting it on the web. I installed wubi 3 years ago and completely
forgot about whether setup asked for a root password. It was alarming
for "su" to prompt for a root password when I don't have one on file.
Others are also similarly alarmed by the "su" response, and there is
plenty of evidence publicly available.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1153901

Title:
  su should exit with a message that root is locked

Status in “shadow” package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  On a wubi install, attempting "su" results in a bewildering rejection
  of the only password known to the user. Instead, the "su" command
  should politely respond, "The root account is locked. To gain root
  privileges, use 'sudo -s' and enter your user password". Otherwise,
  how can anyone know what to do? It's crazy to knowningly lock the user
  out of their own OS. You've got to tell them how they are supposed to
  get in as root.

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