rm not working

what is going on? I'm trying to remove a directory and the contents
thereof:

root@sysresccd /sda3 % ls
sda1
root@sysresccd /sda3 % rm -rf sda1
rm: cannot remove
`sda1/home/bmike1/.local/share/Trash/files/usr/local/openvpn_as/lib/python2.6/distutils':
Input/output error
rm: cannot remove `sda1/home/bmike1/.config/dconf': Input/output error
rm: cannot remove `sda1/home/bmike1/.config/gnome-session': Input/output
error
rm: cannot remove `sda1/home/bmike1/.config/software-center': Input/output
error
rm: cannot remove `sda1/home/bmike1/.config/ubuntuone': Input/output error
rm: cannot remove `sda1/home/bmike1/.config/eog': Input/output error
rm: cannot remove `sda1/home/bmike1/.config/banshee-1': Input/output error
rm: cannot remove `sda1/home/bmike1/.config/nautilus': Input/output error
rm: cannot remove `sda1/home/bmike1/.config/gedit': Input/output error

      Then I noticed that I'm not root.root@sysresccd /sda3 % su

su: Authentication failure
root@sysresccd /sda3 % sudo rm -rf sda1
zsh: correct 'sudo' to '_sudo' [nyae]? y
_arguments:comparguments:312: can only be called from completion function
root@sysresccd /sda3 % su root
su: Authentication failure
root@sysresccd /sda3 % su root <password>
su: Authentication failure
root@sysresccd /sda3 % man su
root@sysresccd /sda3 %

     So this is my live cd so I figure that not being root is cool but how
do I delete the files?
-- 
:-)~MIKE~(-:

---------------------------------------------------
PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss