The Case of the Administrator Poltergeist

So, attempting to change my user image (which has not been set, it's just blank) I get that message. As I'm still getting my KDE legs, how do I go about changing it?

This is a bug, vote for it and maybe developers will be able to get to it faster:

http://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=183245

interesting, since I can not reproduce this and i'm on kde-4.3.2, and the bug is still open because its status is unconfirmed.

it looks as though if you've done something like
Did you activated user image in KDM as root?

Login in as root, in System Settings->Advanced->Login Manager->Users->User
Image Source activate User

as if the ability to set images is disabled by root.

i hope this helps.

take care,

Note that in the future this should be made easier through the KAuth framework.

Just for an update on anyone searching for this. I successfully allowed changing the icon in kde 4.2.3 by changing the kdm control center module.

First launch the control center module as admistrator.

I used the following command:
kdesu kcmshell4 kdm

Once you are in the module, goto the Users tab. Locate the section on far right under User Image Source. If this is set to "System," as a user, you cannot change your image. I chose "User,System" to have my personal photo take precedence over the system default. Please make the appropriate choice for your setup.

Apply the settings. Then go back into the About me module as your user account and choose your login image. If it works, KDE will create an image in home directory called .face.icon (notice the . at the beginning).

Your solution works. Thank you!

Thank you for enlightening me!

Xiborg

Talking of which...what group does a user have to be in to modifiy his own personal account?

Users are normally allowed to change their password by default...