Solved Admin Rights has been trembled (was: Access TimeShift only possible as root)

[Mauvve Knight]

Since today's morning I can access and start TimeShift only as root. No more as regular user, no more as admin user. Before I was able to access and start TimeShift normally.

I have been looking if there are crash reports or warnings bu nothing special. Other apps start normally. Rebooting doesn't solve the problem.

I haven't changed any setting as far as I know, but I'd like to monitor usage and last but not least I'd like to be able to restore a previous state.

I'd like to get some advice how to resolve this?

I'm running T2 Linux Mint Cinnamon 22.3 on a MacBookPro 16,2.

 

[Mauvve Knight]

Additional info: I can't uninstall programs; it asks for root user password.

During an attempt yesterday to create a shared local folder I have been tinkering with users rights and I am afraid I have deleted administrator its admin rights...

 

[Mauvve Knight]

Solution:

1. I rebooted Linux Mint in Single User Mode (using rEFInd) and entered to go on in maintenance mode
2. Once logged in as root I have been able to set my administrator admin account back into the sudo group
3. Rebooted Linux to normal mode

and done. I can do everything like before.

 

[Mauvve Knight]

In order to get my admin account back I used usermod -G sudo administrator in Single User Mode. After reboot I have been able to reset all other permissions in both my admin account as my regular account.

Problem solved and learned a lot again.

 

[Condobloke]

You could always use Timeshift to set your system back to when it worked properly

 

[wizardfromoz]

That could not be done through the distro in session, because the OP had no access to authorise Timeshift's launch, but it could be done with the use of a Live USB (or similar medium) of Mint, which has a cut down version of Timeshift in it by default, accessible from the Desktop Menu.

For the OP - The Live Timeshift can be launched without need for a Password, and is a cutdown version. You cannot take a snapshot, but you can restore a snapshot by just pointing it toward where your snapshots are stored, and follow the prompts.

Glad you got it solved, anyway

Cheers

Wiz

 

[Mauvve Knight]

For the OP - The Live Timeshift can be launched without need for a Password, and is a cutdown version. You cannot take a snapshot, but you can restore a snapshot by just pointing it toward where your snapshots are stored, and follow the prompts.

Glad you got it solved, anyway

Cheers

Wiz

Thanks for your answer, Wiz! I wasn't sure if I could use Live USB to use Timeshift. I did not have a T2 Live USB on hand so I couldn't give it a try.

I chose to login using Single User Login. I experienced from the latest versions of MacOS you can login as Single User (which Apple calls 'Recover') by pressing Ctrl + Y during boot. Once in Recovery Mode you can use terminal to perform actions like password reset, creating new admin user etc. I was for sure I could do the same in Mint once logged in as Root.