Leopard Default User Template

Hi,
I used to be able to create a customised default user template in Tiger by copying my customised account to the /System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj folder.
In leopard however new accounts are not getting the customised settings.
My method is as follows:
Create temp account
Login to temp account and customise all my settings such as desktop image, icons, finder preferences, dock, program preferences, printers, etc.
before logging out I delete the login keychain, references and files. Clear out the ~/Library/Caches folder.
logout and into and admin account.
Run terminal
su - to enable root user
copy the current default template to a backup area using..
cp -R /System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj/* /backup are path
Then clear it out
rm -R /System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj/*
Then copy the new one in
cp -R /Users/Temp/* /System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj
All the files and folders copy over but when I login with a new account none of the customised settings are used.
Any ideas on how to get this working?

Situation I can authenticate network users to LDAP on our Novell server. Our Novell server does not have mappings for Apple computers though so it is just basic authentication. I was able to script mapping of the appropriate volumes as a start up item in the dock because some of our servers can connect as AFP servers.
The problem is after they authenticate through LDAP at the login screen they all get dumped into the root users profile and they have root user powers. Even after I disabled the root user.
I wanted them to use the custom default profile I made. I created a temp user called student customized it copied its profile to the default user profile location. With the instructions you posted above. If I create a new user in account preferences it uses that custom profile fine BUT network users always login as the / a root user.
I could possibly use the root user because we want to lock down the harddrive with deepfreeze. BUT the Novell iPrint program required for users to print does not work at all in this crazy Fake Root user environment.
What am I missing to get my Mac to use my custom profile.

Similar Messages

Edit Default User Killed Leopard Default User folder completely disapeared

I was trying to create a custom default user for network users to login to because I was learning how to set up a Mac for use as a campus public PC.
We do not have a Mac server but do have a Novell server set as Open directory. I was the first to figure out how to LDAP authenticate users.
The next step was to customize the default user template for network users to login into on the Mac. Then all went dead.
I copied in settings from the root user to the default user location and repaired permissions on the hard drive. I was following proceedures I found online the best I could. These:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2105869&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2056194&tstart=0
It seemed to be going well then I went to go to system preferences and
the OS slowed then froze and after a reset would not boot.
It would go to the gray Null sign circle with a line through several times and would try to boot other partitions.
A verbose boot said something about the Boot.efi being in some trashes folder.
I booted from a USB back up of the OS and searched for the folder that holds the default user profile and it was not there at all.
When trying to set a boot device it would no longer let me select the internal hard disk.
Any ideas? I am reinstalling the OS but does anyone know what happened? Was this a Mac virus, a hack attack, does repairing permissions as the root user cause destruction? Are there system boot files in the default user profile location?

Thanks for your reply those sound like good emergency aid procedures. I need to know more of those.
I did a full reinstall and tried the same procedure but they system is running well this time. My goal of a custom user profile for network users though still does not work. For this issue I will search other threads or start a new one.
Situation I can authenticate network users to LDAP on our Novell server. Our Novell server does not have mappings for Apple computers though so it is just basic authentication. I was able to script mapping of the appropriate volumes as a start up item in the doc.
The problem is after they authenticate through LDAP at the login screen they all get dumped into the root users profile and they have root user powers. Even after I disabled the root user.
I wanted them to use the custom default profile I made. I created a temp user called student customized it copied its profile to the default user profile location. If I create a new user in account preferences it uses that custom profile fine BUT network users always login as the / a root user.
I could use that because we want to lock down the harddrive with deepfreeze. BUT the novell iPrint program required for users to print does not work at all in this crazy Fake Root user environment.

Default User Template for AD users with Win home dirs

Hi all,
Can anyone tell me if it's possible for AD users with Windows based home directories to get a default user template given to them the first time they login to a Mac bound to AD?
I can give local users and users with home dirs on our Xserve my default user settings via the English.lproj template, but I cannot for the life of me get this to work for those users with Windows based home directories.
This is a biggie since my boss has mandated that ALL our student home directories are to be hosted under Windows from now on...
Thanks in advance.

So you are using roaming profiles on AD and when they log into a Mac you want to setup their default, is that what I am hearing?
You will need to modify the English.lproj on the local machine to setup the default template. Since the mac server is not involved in the authentication and hosting of a roaming AD account with windows home folder, the client creates the home folder initially. Modify the default English.lproj on the clients.

Pros and Cons for replacing the default user template?

Hi,
since I've installed a new server, I don't want to make any mistake,
If I replace the default user template (*.iproj) by my own, is it really a bad idea?
Am I better modifying the existing one (.plist) even if it is more work?
Thanks

If I replace the default user template (*.iproj) by my own, is it really a bad idea?
While you can modify the default User Template, it is not a recommended practice to do so. Since you are managing clients via MCX, anything that you set in WGM for user preferences will be added to the user's profile at login. If you have a need for some specific application preferences that need to be added for users, configure the application on a workstation as a local user and then import the .plist into WGM. Anything else -folders or files- that an application creates in the local user prefs folders, that may be needed, can usually be placed in the /Library/Preferences, /Library/Application Support, and /Library/Managed Preferences folders on the clients so that users have access to them.

Altering default user template in 10.6

Hello,
Can anyone post explicit instructions for the simplest way of altering the default new user template in Snow Leopard? I need to alter the template so when a new account is created, it already has the bookmarks, settings, desktop image, etc that my office requires.
I'd prefer to do it Terminal because I'm guessing it will be a lot quicker than any GUI method (if there even is one). I've gotten conflicting information whether it's necessary to log in as root for this. Can it be done with sudo commands? I'm a relative UNIX noob, so explicit directions are appreciated!
Thanks!

The only thing UNIX about it is to make sure you get all the permissions correct.
Run "sudo bash" to get a root shell. Then copy the folder "/System/Library/User Template" somewhere else so you can work on it. Change permissions on the COPY so that you can work on it. You could use the Finder or "chmod". After adjusting all the settings the way you want, copy it back, adjusting permissions to match the original.

Anyone have accurate instructions on modifying the default user template in Lion 10.7.4 ?

Never had an issue in the past...not until Lion.
After I create my local user, and modify program behavior, dock and desktop wallpaper I copy the contents of the home folder (including hidden folders) to the English.lproj folder.
My new users are not only not getting the settings, their home folder is empty. No documents, music, or anything.

Google modifying user template site:apple.com and peruse the hits.
Also, see http://http://www.apple.com/osx/server/resources/documentation.html for detailed into.

Migration Assistant doesn't respect User Templates

Hi everyone,
I work doing Information Technology support for a small (of about 30-40 people) communications department. We just ordered about 9 computers, and they all came with Lion.
Some people that I work with are very change-phobic, and I've created a default user template that respects what they've been doing for a long time and includes what I need to do my job. The main things I've changed include reversing the natural scroll direction (I know, I know, I like it myself, but like I said, some people I work with are incredibly change-phobic) remote login settings, showing the Library folder, and including default login software (such as new backup software we've decided to deploy at the same time as new computer deployments).
I've found that creating new users on the system respects the user template:
(found at /System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj/Library/Preferences/).
But when I migrate users (either choosing to migrate settings, or not migrate settings), it doesn't matter, as the OS defaults back to not including the new login software and reverting scroll direction.
I can't hold off much longer in deploying these computers, but I know that I'll immediatly get a lot of requests about how to put settings back to the way they were.
Is there a way to have Migration Assistant respect the default user template (when not migrating settings)?
Best,
Allen

Hi John,
While your link was certainly informative, it isn't really addressing my problem, though I appreciate your response.
I don't know if this may interest you, but you can force the Setup Assistant to run without reinstalling Lion. Just boot into single user mode (command+s), then remove this file:
rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
You see, your mac, upon every boot, checks to see if that file is present. Its not really even a file that holds any information (its just a file named .AppleSetupDone). If the file is not present, your computer will run the "first-run wizard," or Setup Assistant.
It's also a trick you can use if you don't have an administrative account on a computer.
Anyway, I'm still hoping I can get answers about why migration assistant refuses to respect the defaults I've set at:
/System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj/Library/Preferences/
Best, and thanks again,
Allen

Long log in times after copying profile to User Template folder

I am having a devil of a time deploying 10.9 and 10.10. I am deploying Macs in a lab environment which sits in an AD world. I usually followed the same pattern of image creation: 1) create a test profile, 2) Install and configure the programs and the dock, 3) Copy the profile, and 4) then test with both a local and admin accounts. With Lion and Mountain Lion, everything worked fine. The new user was able to log on with the default user template profile that was copied. Now with 10.9.5, the network user (with a network Home Page) takes 5 minutes to log on when I copy a profile to the User Templates folder. I can't create a new user from Users and Groups because the system preferences wont close because it is still busy creating the user. I use Deploy Studio and Profile Manager to push out images. I followed my procedures to the core including repairing the permissions, deleting the key chain, and clearing out the application caches. Is anyone else experiencing this? Is there anything new in regards to Active Directory in Mavericks and Yosemite and OS X? Any help would be much appreciated.

Hi, you might want to repost this in Server forum, or maybe 10.9 o 10.10...
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AD users not downloading user template from AD+OD Leopard server

I have an OD master Leopard server that is also bound to AD for user accounts. The AD users are added to OD groups. The OD groups have managed preferences including mobile account settings. When I log into the AD+OD bound Leopard client as an AD user, the user template is not copied from the Leopard server to the client. The user template does get copied down to the client if I log into the Leopard client as an OD user in the same OD group. I noticed that the home folder path of an AD user is set to use SMB instead of AFP. I have tried to change this in WGM to use the AFP path but the setting does not hold after I click save. Always reverts back to the SMB home folder path which is the same as the AFP path except for the SMB at the beginning for example: smb://servername/networkusers/username instead of afp://servername/networkusers/username. I have set the AD plugin on the clients to use AFP but that still did not work.
Has anyone had any luck with this? Using a Leopard OD master server also bound to AD to host synced mobile accounts. On Leopard clients the user template is copied down to the clients from the server when the AD user first logs into the client?

Hi Fred,
That worked! I thought it was something on the AD side not knowing the correct afp home folder path. And I thought the mobile account settings were enough using WGM. Never thought of also needing to set create mobile acount on login for the AD plugin but that makes sense.
Thanks again for your help.
-Bob

Setting default user information for Pages templates

Over time I've added email & phone numbers to "my card" in Address book. How can I tell Pages which address & phone number to use for templates like Letters etc. right now it seems to pick old addresses & phone numbers (which I still need in my card, they just are not my first choice anymore.)
(Right now, I'm using Modern letter, but it applies for others as well.)
I know I could create my own templates, but it would be nice to be able to just use the builtin templates.
I can't find any preference in Pages or way to indicate a default in Address book.
thanks

But, to me, it seems logical that this would work.
Use -and instead of -or.
EDIT: To summarize, here's how you can get all mailboxes except a few:
$mbxs = Get-Mailbox | Where { $_.SamAccountName -ne 'bigboss' -and $_.SamAccountName -ne 'someoneelse' }
Here's how you'd return only the specific mailboxes you want:
$mbxs = Get-Mailbox -Filter "SamAccountName -eq 'user.three' -or SamAccountName -eq 'user.four'"
Don't retire TechNet! -
(Don't give up yet - 13,085+ strong and growing)
Thanks for all the responses! This was exactly what I was after, and it works perfectly. There is, however, one final question, if I may.
Before submitting the final command to amend the Default user permissions on every mailbox within the variable, I would like to export the values of these to a .txt file. So, I'm submitting the code below, but I don't know how to push the results out to
a .txt file (ideally without it also printing the results to the console window).
foreach ($m in $mb) { Get-MailboxFolderPermission -Identity $($m.UserPrincipalName+":\calendar") -User Default | fl }
I've tried adding the following both within the parenthesis of the foreach loop and outside of it but it doesn't work.
> C:\tmp\calendar.txt
I also tried the following.
| Add-Content C:\tmp\calendar.txt
But this did not output the same data as it does when I leave this bit out.

User template in Lion?

Hello everybody..
Why can't i make user templates in Lion like i could with snow leopard and leopard etc.
I follow the same guide as Snow Leopard but, it won't work?
/System/Library/User Templates
Do anybody know, what i am doing wrong?
Greetings Alex...

What up fellow MacHeads. Try this:
Found it on MacWorld
1: Still valid for 10.7 Lion.
2: Remeber to NOT copy(or remove) the Login.keychain on the account you use to set it up.
Otherwise the login will complain that it could not unlock the keychain, and promt for your setup-password.. ;-)
The first login will auto-create the login.keychain anyway, so simply delete it in the Template.
3: Don't leave Finder windows open. They will point to your setup account, and not have access.. ;-)
4: On Lion, clear out ~/Library/Saved Application State
Otherwise the apps you had open under the setup user will open in states not so good (like web sessions etc..)
5: Remember to copy the files into the language of the Login Window language!!!
Pr. default, that is English, but if you selected something else during the OS install, like Danish, you need to copy the files into "User Template/da.lproj" and not "User Template/English.lproj" !!
/Marook
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20011010033851924

Create OS X Default Profile/Template & Bind to AD (10.6 & 10.5)

This article will explain how to create a default user profile/template for OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard & OS X 10.5 Leopard as well a quick overview of how to bind your Mac to AD (Active Directory)
Why create a Default profile/template?
If you a computer that multiple users log into it on a regular basis & you want all users to have an identical profile with looks, setting etc. then this article will show you how to do so.
Binding to AD (Active Directory)
With the new version of OS X Snow Leopard, Apple has now moved where the Directory Utility is found. It's now part of core services unlike OS X Leopard where it was found in the Utilities folder.
Step 1 (Create default user profile/template ** OS X Snow Leopard & Leopard)
With your “admin” user fully update OS X.
** Keep in mind that there are some applications out there that will not run or support past certain version of an OS X. If this does not apply then update to latest OS X version release.
With your “admin” user install all needed applications that will be needed all check for any updates for those applications.
From the “Accounts” panel create a new user. (For this document I will name create a users named “default”)
Enable “Root” user:
Snow Leopard 10.6 - Go to the Accounts Panel -> Login Options -> Network Account Server & select “Join”. Next select “Open Directory Utility”.
Once you have the “Directory Open” select ”Edit” from menu bar & select “Enable Root User” and give it a password.
If you chose to the direct method to open “Directory Utility” is /System/Library/CoreServices/Directory\ Utility.app
Leopard 10.5 - Go to /Applications/Utilities/Directory\ Utility.app
Once you have the “Directory Open” select ”Edit” from menu bar & select “Enable Root User” and give it a password.
Logout & then login into “default” user
Organize the Dock with all your needed applications
Adjust settings & preferences for:
Dock
Desktop/Finder/MenuBar
System Preferences (Run through each option in System Preferences & adjust as needed)
Run “ALL” applications that will be used on the system. Once each application has launched open it’s preferences and adjust as needed. (In most cases, it’s recommended to turn “off” “check for updates” if you do not want users getting prompted each time an application releases an update)
If there is more than one browser installed you should set which browser should be default. At this point you can also select a default “Save Folder” if you want users to select where download will appear.
In case you have downloaded & visited website during your profile creation, clear the cache, history & cookies in each browser.
Once you feel that your “default” user is prepared the way you want others to see it proceed to the final step, but only when you are finished working on the user.
Clear the “default” user caches. Go to /Users/”default”/Library/Caches & simply delete/trash all the files in this folder.
**Clearing the user caches is not fully needed but if you want to slim down the default user profile/template for a faster login, then removing these files will speed things up. Applications will just create the needed files here when they are needed.
Next, open “Keychain Access” /Applications/Utilities/Keychain\ Access.app
Select “Login” from the “Keychains” area then select the “File” menu and chose “Delete Keychain login”.
Now restart the computer and login as root.
We now just need to copy the newly created profile/template and replace the system default profile.
Open Terminal & run the following commands:
Backup current system profile (in case something happens you can restore this folder)
Right click and select “Compress English.lproj”
sudo rm -rf /System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj/*
(Removes contents from English.lproj folder)
sudo cp -R /Users/”default”/* /System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj/*
(Copies your newly created “default” user profile/template) *May take a minute if profile is big
You have now created a default profile that will load up each time a new user logs in.
Now restart & login as your “admin” user and run “Repair Disk Permissions” in “Disk Utility”
If you wish to bind the computer to Active Directory continue to Step 2.
Step 2 (Bind to AD / Active Directory ** OS X Snow Leopard & Leopard)
Snow Leopard 10.6 - Go to the Accounts Panel -> Login Options -> Network Account Server & select “Join”. Next select “Open Directory Utility”.
If you chose to the direct method to open “Directory Utility” is /System/Library/CoreServices/Directory\ Utility.app
Leopard 10.5 - Go to /Applications/Utilities/Directory\ Utility.app
Once Directory Utility is open double click “Active Directory”
Once open enter in the needed info for your Domain, name computer & select what options you want or don’t want.
Now simply select “Bind” and enter in a user/password that has Network Administrator access to your domain.
You are now bound to your domain.
It’s also a good idea to change the login window to “Name & Password” if there will be many users logging into the computer.
Now restart your computer.
Once restarted & sitting at your login window, the best way to know you are connect to your domain is to click 5 Times where you see your computer name. You should see a colored dot, which will give you your status. You want to see Green.
Now try logging in using an AD/Active Directory account.
** If you see an issue or mistake in this article please let me know here http://tinyurl.com/Create-OS-X-Default-Profile
Message was edited by: carter.x

See:
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/how-run-firefox-when-your-profile-missing-or-inacc
This is usually caused by a problem with the profiles.ini file and the profile marked as Default=1 in this file is no longer present on the hard drive.
*Windows: %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\<br>C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profile>\
*Linux: ~/.mozilla/firefox/
*Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/
In Mac OS X v10.7 and later, the ~/Library folder is a hidden folder.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders#Mac_OS_X
You can use one of these to make Firefox create/use a new default profile:
*Delete the profiles.ini file to force Firefox to create a new default profile
*Use the Profile Manager to create a new profile
*Use "Choose Folder" when you create a new profile to select the location of a lost profile and recover this profile
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_Manager
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Managing+profiles
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox

Have a Mini with "Default User" account. Can an admin account be created instead of using that?

I purchased an Early 2009 Mini on eBay. The seller reinstalled Leopard on it (that's what it came with) after erasing his stuff on it. He put "Default User" as the user name, but no password. He said for security that I should make an account with a password.
When I upgraded to Snow Leopard, I thought it would have an option to create a user name and password. It didn't. Can I make up another user account as the administration account; then use a third user account for documents, pics, etc. (not to disturb the admin account) and forget using the "Default User" account?
I really hate to take the time to erase and reinstall Leopard and Snow Leopard just to remove the "Default User" account.
Thanks.
silverado93

In order to create another account the account you are using needs to have admin privileges. Does it? If so you unlock the Accounts prefpane by clicking the lock in the lower left and entering the admin password (hence the reason the account you're using needs to be an administrator). Then you can create other accounts and click the checkbox for an account that says "Allow user to administer this computer".
Not you can change the admin password for an account by using booting from your installer disk.
Now having said all that are you currently in a state where you have a single account that is not an admin account?

Creating a default User account for new users

Today I tried creating a default setting for and account that could be used for all new users. I did web searches after web serches and not luck. In the old systems it was simple, but Mavericks made it difficult. But after much hair pulling and putting several suggestions together it is just as simple as it was before.
Step 1 Create a new user account
Step 2 log on to that account and set it up totally, that means background picture, preferences, dock, everything
Step 3 click on the home incon in a finder window then go to Finder view select view options and at the bottom check show library
Step 4 go to HD>system library>user templates, you will need to select the file, Command I for info, unlock the lock, click + at bottom select your admin account, give youself read write permissions, go click on the folder you wish/need to change and get info and repeat the step above for each folder.
Step 5 replace the library folder and any other you wish to change with the one from the new account
Step 6 you can also place any documents on the desktop or document folder and replace them
Step 7 create a new user account and verify that the settings and dock are correct.
This takes about 5 minutes or so and is much easier for the non pro

I don't always understand how things can be different from one computer to the other running the same systems and following the same steps but I have 2 iMac's and the steps above for the desktop picture worked on one but not on the other, go figure. So as a fix the default picture was named Wave in the Desktop Picture folder so I changed the name of it to Wave1 and renamed the new photo Wave, did not change the alias in the CoreService folder, now the second computer creates and new user account with all my perferred settings and background picture.
As a recap of my orginal post by creating a default user account, setting up the preferences for finder, and setting up the dock, I simply replaced the preference folder in the User Template file and it works perfectly. Remember that you can do the same with the Document folder or the desktop if you want to place them for all new users.
Since I am not a professional computer person I do not feel comfortable using the terminal or scripting so this works very well for the common person to create a new user template.

Apply the default user logon picture to all users

Hi
I applied gpo "apply the default user logon picture to all users"
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Control Panel\User Accounts\Apply the default user logon picture to all users
C:\programdata\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\user.bmp --> renamed my company log to user.bmp.
Taken backup of old user.bmp.
But policy is not working.
Environment:
Windows Server 2008 R2
Clients:Windows 7 and Windows 8

Hi S.Vijay Kumar,
Based on my understanding, the GPO which configured the
Apply the default user logon picture to all users would not apply successfully. What’s more, you have customized the default user logon picture
%ProgramData%\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\user.bmp. Right?
Firstly, please check if the scope of this GPO and the setting of Filtering are correct.
Secondly, please follow the steps below to check if the GPO is applied to these Windows XP clients:
Click Start, type rsop.msc in the search box to access
Resultant set of policy.
Check if the GPO is applied to these clients and the setting of the GPO is correct.
In addition, it would be helpful for future troubleshooting if you could help to collect the following information:
Did the GPO fail to apply for all the computers or only some computers?
Can you set the user.bmp as the user logon picture
manually?
Regards,
Lany Zhang

Leopard Default User Template

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