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Screen works for root, fails for regular users
Problem:
When root tries to start "screen", it works nicely. However, when a regular user tries the same: "$ screen" "Cannot open your terminal '/dev/pts/3' - please check." Note: The terminal name may vary from this example.
 
Solution:
This problem occurs when connecting as root and then using "su" to change to a regular user. The connecting terminal (/dev/pts/3 in this example) is therefore owned by root and not the regular user, and as such the regular user can not connect to it.

There is no known fix or workaround, except to log in directly as the regular user. Screen should then work just fine.

 
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