> Posted by: "Alastair Burton"  alastairburton%40cfl.rr.com">alastairburtoncfl.rr.com vw32818
>
> How does one re gain root privileges, the owner of which, having been
> deleted? I have tried to install some things that need root
> privileges, which I don't have as an administrator.
> Alastair

Your post is setting off red flags in my head like you would not 
believe.

Mac OS X is *not* set up to *ever* require root access, because root 
access is a *massive* security hole. Root should only be invoked for 
troubleshooting, and even then only as a *very* last resort.

There is no software I'm aware of that requires user root access, 
including Mac OS X itself.

Root is the almost exclusive function of the system itself and should 
remain that way.

If you think you need root access, you are doing something wrong. VERY 
wrong.

Sorry if I sound like I'm lecturing, it's not intended, but I can't 
emphasize this enough -- I cannot think of ANY situation in OS X where 
you would routinely need root access, and in normal use you should  
NEVER need it at all.

Enabling root is a fast track to serious problems. I would erase the 
HD and reinstall OS X from scratch before I would enable root access 
for myself in all but the most rare of situations.

If you'll provide details of what you're trying to do, perhaps one of 
us can offer an alternative.

Cheers
Chas