HELP!!

Mac Mini G4, OS X 10.4 Tiger, 80GB, 512MB.

Wouldn't boot, did Archive and Install. Now boots but I cannot remember my username, since I haven't had to use it in over 3 years. Tried numerous username/password combos with no luck. OS X keeps shaking me off.

What are my options? I've looked everywhere to see if I wrote login info down, but cannot find it. Can I reset user/password?

xfm284,

See if anything here is of help: Mac OS X: Changing or resetting an account password.

Welcome to MacFixIt Forums,
dianne.

Thanks, Dianne.

Tried the account/password reset procedure in your link, but it doesn't have any users listed for the Mac Hard Drive except 'System Administrator (root)', which the procedure cautions NOT to use. I don't know if that's good or bad. I think probably bad.

The logon box does show the name of my computer right under the OS X logo, so I know the Archive and Install preserved my settings, but none of the account names/passwords I recall have worked, and no user names show in the password reset process. I have always used automatic login and have entered the password when requested for app installs, etc, but have not had to enter a user account name in years.

In the password reset box, I tried using the System Administrator (root) ID with a blank password and rebooted, hoping that that might work but no good.

Any other possibilities short of a complete clean OS reinstall which would I assume wipe out all my files, apps and settings?

> Tried the account/password reset procedure in your link, but it doesn't have any users listed for the Mac Hard Drive except 'System Administrator (root)', which the procedure cautions NOT to use. I don't know if that's good or bad. I think probably bad.

First... It is virtually never a good idea to have "root user" enabled on your Mac; "root" can do any sort of damage, up to and including deleting your entire OS, without authorization.

Second, the fact that you've got no users other than "root" listed suggests possible issues.

> Any other possibilities short of a complete clean OS reinstall which would I assume wipe out all my files, apps and settings?

I've never done an A & I in this manner, but this quote from Mac OS X: About the Archive and Install feature

"You can choose to preserve your user and network settings before installing. This option automatically moves existing users, Home directories, and network settings. This also skips the Setup Assistant after installation." (Emphasis added.)

says (as I read it) that an A & I that does not preserve settings necessitates setting up a new account and preserves your old data in a "Previous System" folder. (See How to get files from a previous home directory after Archive and Install for what to do next.)

Before you do another A & I, though, boot from your install/restore disc and run Disk Utility>Repair Disk (Not "Verify Disk"); if it returns any errors rerun it "n" times until it gives you a clean bill of health.

Another option is for you to back up your data in FireWire target disk mode (Be sure to eject your Mac off the desktop of the borrowed Mac before you remove the cable.) and follow that with an erase and install.

Hope this helps; let us know how you make out.

Thanks, Artie

I did a disk repair (multiple) BEFORE the A&I. I checked the 'Preserve user..." option and all has gone precisely as expected. My Computer's name appears in the login box just below the Mac OSX logo, so I know the settings did transfer.

My problem is regarding a lost user ID/password combo to get back into the OS. Several troubleshooting procedures I have read advise to enter a wrong password 3 times and OSX will give me password reset options. I enter passwords more than 3 times and it just goes back to the login box.

Can a tech at the Apple Store use some kind of magic back door entry to the OS to be able to establish a new user or reset the old one? I have been the only user of this machine and the S/N is registered with Apple in my name.

maybe the best thing for you to do now is reset the root user password, login as root, and create a new account to use. Sounds like the netinfo/directoryservices database got thrashed. (contains the userlist, among other things)

Hey, Virtual, we're on the same wavelength.

I tried just that this morning and voila! it worked!!!

I now at least have access to the OS. I created a new account, but still have not yet gotten access to my old account with all its apps, files and settings. That's the next step. I will try the password reset for the old user account and see if that gets me back my old files and apps.

My biggest worry is my iTunes music, which is on my iPod also. Is there an easy way to get the music from the iPod back onto my Mac?

Hi, xfm284,

I'm happy to hear that the "root" approach worked for you; I didn't push you in that direction, because you seemed aprehensive about it.

> I checked the 'Preserve user..." option and all has gone precisely as expected.

On the other hand, though, you obviously didn't read my post very dilligently, because I suggested another A & I without checking the "Preserve..." box; that would have taken you to Setup Assistant and enabled you to set up a new account without dealing with "root."

> I created a new account, but still have not yet gotten access to my old account with all its apps, files and settings.

All of that stuff is in the "Previous System" folder that now lives at the root of your HD; my post links to Apple's instructions for retrieving data from that folder. (You may run into permisions issues, but we'll cross that bridge if we come to it.)

I ran into the same problem and logged on as "root" and was sent to the OSX assistant screen. Should I continue and transfer info from a partition on this Mac? I really don't know if there is a partition on it or should I go on without transferring any info?

Sorry, Wolfman090, but to the best of my knowledge, logging in as "root" should not take you to Setup Assistant, and your partition question is so unclear that I don't even understand it.

If you can clarify what went wrong and what you did to try to fix it, clear step by clear step, we can probably help.