edit /etc/passwd and update the shell, for example, i want to configure bash for root
root:x:0:0:Super-User:/:/usr/bin/bash
log out and log in again to verify.
within your home folder, also specified in /etc/passwd, above example sets / as the home folder for root, create a .profile file with the following content
export TERM=vt100
export PS1=”$USER@$HOSTNAME:w> [e[0m]”
this will set your terminal to vt100, which allows for easy editing and does some formatting on your prompt 🙂
check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS1 for more info!