How to enable the OS X root user

The following information was found at spy-hill.com.

This is the easiest method to enable the "root" account on a Mac if you are more of a CLI person:

1. Log in on the Admin account. (Your normal, every day user account should not have administrative privileges!).

2. Open up a command shell in the Terminal application with
   Macintosh HD -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal.
   
   

   At the command prompt type this command:

   % sudo passwd root Enter Password: Changing password for root New password: Verify password:

   The first password you are asked for is the already existing password for the Admin account, to prove that you are authorized to make changes to this system. After that, you enter the new root password (twice, for verification). That is all, the "root" account is now enabled, with that password.