Post by: kimmer on August 30, 2008, 10:40:34 PM
Printed that info out, Sneakers tried it and it told him there wasn't any other user.
BUT, when Sneakers starts up his G4, the screen shows:
- Sneakers (the orig. acct with his real deal first and last name)
- other
Clicking on other, he types in the name he gave the administrator acct and the password (this is what he's always done) .. and instead of working, he gets the screen shaking itself NO.
He can't seem to delete the acct, the reset says it doesn't exist, but it is there and he needs the privileges for the act because he wants to reinstall OS9 and it won't let him without logging in as admin ... and so round and round he goes.
If you have any ideas/suggestions - shout out because we are stumped.
His info: 10.4.11 on a G4
Post by: krissel on August 30, 2008, 11:44:33 PM
Is there another user listed in the User's folder?
What do you mean by "the reset says it doesn't exist"? What reset?
What happens when you boot to an install CD/DVD and attempt to reset the password with that utility?
Post by: kimmer on August 31, 2008, 02:59:59 AM
QUOTE(krissel @ Aug 30 2008, 09:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Are you sure the caps lock isn't on or keyboard malfunctioning?
Caps lock is off and keyboard is working fine.
QUOTE
Is there another user listed in the User's folder?
No, just him.
QUOTE
What do you mean by "the reset says it doesn't exist"? What reset?
HOWTO: Reset a lost OS X password from the link that Paddy shared (see my first post).
QUOTE
What happens when you boot to an install CD/DVD and attempt to reset the password with that utility?
He's had a prob trying to boot off the install disc. We are going to give that another go -- but after we both get some
.Mac is wondering if he accidentally deleted the admin acct, but I don't see how he could have done that. Who knows though, he was on meds for a bit and might have managed to do something inconceivable.
Post by: krissel on August 31, 2008, 03:55:57 AM
QUOTE
Take a look at the changes that you can make to the login process. First, Mac OS X provides three methods of displaying the login screen:
* Logging in with a list: To log in, click your account username in the list, and the login screen displays the password prompt. Type your password - Mac OS X displays bullet characters to ensure security - and press Return (or click the Log In button).
* Logging in with username and password: Type your account username in the Name field and press Tab. Then type your password and press Return (or click the Log In button).
* Auto Login: With Auto Login set, Mac OS X automatically logs in the specified account when you reboot. In effect, you never see the login screen unless you click Log Out from the Apple menu. (Naturally, this option is attractive if your computer is in a secure location - like your office - and you'll be the only one using your Mac.)
To specify which type of login screen you see - if you see one at all - head to System Preferences, click Accounts, and then click the Login Options button.
* Logging in with a list: To log in, click your account username in the list, and the login screen displays the password prompt. Type your password - Mac OS X displays bullet characters to ensure security - and press Return (or click the Log In button).
* Logging in with username and password: Type your account username in the Name field and press Tab. Then type your password and press Return (or click the Log In button).
* Auto Login: With Auto Login set, Mac OS X automatically logs in the specified account when you reboot. In effect, you never see the login screen unless you click Log Out from the Apple menu. (Naturally, this option is attractive if your computer is in a secure location - like your office - and you'll be the only one using your Mac.)
To specify which type of login screen you see - if you see one at all - head to System Preferences, click Accounts, and then click the Login Options button.
QUOTE
The Listless Login Screen
There are two ways of displaying the login panel. The user-friendly way is the list of names, but for greater security (though less convenience), you may prefer to require that would-be Mac users type both their names and their passwords into text boxes. This way, would-be evildoers have to know both the correct spelling of a legitimate account holder's name and the password.
Most people think that getting to this text-box login screen entails opening System Preferences, clicking on Accounts, clicking on Login Options, and turning on Name And Password. The truth is, though, that there's a much quicker way to switch, without even involving System Preferences -- it's a trick you might use when, for example, you want to log in as console or root (advanced techies, you know who you are), which requires that you type the name in.
From the list-of-names view, hold down the option and enter keys, and then click on any name. The login panel switches to displaying the text-entry boxes, where you can log in as root or console.
To switch back to the list view, just click on the Go Back button in the lower left corner of the login panel. (Changing the panel this way is a onetime affair; at the next login, the dialog box will be back to its previous state.)
There are two ways of displaying the login panel. The user-friendly way is the list of names, but for greater security (though less convenience), you may prefer to require that would-be Mac users type both their names and their passwords into text boxes. This way, would-be evildoers have to know both the correct spelling of a legitimate account holder's name and the password.
Most people think that getting to this text-box login screen entails opening System Preferences, clicking on Accounts, clicking on Login Options, and turning on Name And Password. The truth is, though, that there's a much quicker way to switch, without even involving System Preferences -- it's a trick you might use when, for example, you want to log in as console or root (advanced techies, you know who you are), which requires that you type the name in.
From the list-of-names view, hold down the option and enter keys, and then click on any name. The login panel switches to displaying the text-entry boxes, where you can log in as root or console.
To switch back to the list view, just click on the Go Back button in the lower left corner of the login panel. (Changing the panel this way is a onetime affair; at the next login, the dialog box will be back to its previous state.)
Also some ideas here:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=50413
Do you have a full backup on an external? If so, does the login window seem different there?
Post by: kimmer on August 31, 2008, 11:58:03 AM
I doubt that Sneakers has a full backup. He's one who backs up only pieces and parts.
Post by: sandyman on August 31, 2008, 04:19:44 PM
As hinted at in the link, I think you'll find that the "other" user is the "root" user. Try using the admin password you have and use "root" as the user name.
It's not a good idea to enable "root" on OS X unless you understand a bit about Unix. That's why even on Linux distros' like Ubuntu "root" is not enabled by default. The first account that is created is given admin rights but has to provide a password to use them, the same as in OS X.
Sandy
Post by: kimmer on August 31, 2008, 08:15:35 PM
Post by: MamaMoose on September 01, 2008, 04:16:00 AM
Try booting from DiskWarrior if you have it, and running it to rebuild system files. Also go into single user mode and run fsck -fy. You are in the root. If that doesn't help. look up ways, using Unix to access your Accounts file and see if anything pops up that appears strange. Finally, "Other" may be a guest account (sharing only) that may have been established. I have one in my Accounts list.
Tom
Post by: kimmer on September 01, 2008, 01:06:01 PM
Most puzzling.
Post by: Mayo on September 01, 2008, 02:09:54 PM
QUOTE
I doubt that Sneakers has a full backup. He's one who backs up only pieces and parts.
The Solution that requires as little effort as possible. If you do it for Sneakers he won't have to do a thing...
1. Attach external drive.
2. Register SuperDuper! and schedule a daily backup to a bootable cloned volume of his Mac.
Total Disasters are immediately transformed into Minor Inconveniences.
Sleep Better At Night!