looks like some files in /etc/pam.d are messed up.
strace su and see what files are missing.
-ivan
>> >apt-get --reinstall install libpam-modules
>> thanks, but:
>> Get:1 http://ie.archive.ubuntu.com hoary/main libpam-modules 0.76-22 [152kB]
> Fetched 152kB in 4s (34.0kB/s)
>> Preconfiguring packages ...
> (Reading database ... 24611 files and directories currently installed.)
> Preparing to replace libpam-modules 0.76-22 (using .../libpam-modules_0.76-22_i386.deb) ...
> Unpacking replacement libpam-modules ...
> Setting up libpam-modules (0.76-22) ...
>>root at serf:~ # su
> su: Module is unknown
> (Ignored)
> su: Module is unknown
>root at serf:~ # passwd
> passwd: Module is unknown
>root at serf:~ #
>>> cheers
>> Bernhard
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