I is for Idiot, I just wanted to upgrade to 10.3

Question

Hey, let's say I recently upgraded my computer (iMac, slot-loading, family computer with 4 users, all admin, no passwords) to panther from 10.2.8.
Let's call the users 1 2 3 and 4. When I try to login in as 3, it says it's logging in as 3 but then loads user 4. User 4 loads fine as himself. So user 3 is really the issue here, everything else works fine. I decide, after doing disk repair from the install CD and permissions repair from HDD, that I'm getting tired of this. I actually didn't decide anything, I was overcome by frustration. (this is bad).
Next, I try some random apple tutorial I found referenced in a topic that I thought vaguely pertains to my issue. This tutorial is http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107210
to teach me how to replace the netinfo database with the backup(!)
So then, I go about blindly slamming my computer from the prompt in single user mode (and I don't know what any of it means). Being so very wise, I skip over the parts involving network databases. Well....
I don't think netinfo database is very happy right now. It's cool that it backs itself up at like 3:15 or whatever everyday, but i'm not sure any backup still existed after the panther upgrade AND...
Now, the login screen won't show user 1 2 3 or 4. It does have this cool new account named "Other..." that I don't have the password for and basically, I can't stop laughing at how histerically stupid and idiotic I just was.
I could see the user folder in target disk mode but they won't be recognized at startup and its sad for me. Can I reverse the wrongs? Can I still go on? Will an archive and reinstall repair the references to the unseen users?
I'm just lucky it's my computer instead of someone else who's paying me $30 each hour and keeps coming around and snooping on me in her crusty old night-gown with a discerning eye.

Answer 1

I did the first account. Even though the account name/folder name are the same, I'm still getting a "user does not have sufficient privledges" error on the home folder data (when logged in as that user).
You need to recreate the accounts in the same order they were initially created; if you don't, you will experience the permissions issues you described.
The tutorial mentioned that there's another way if I get this error. What would that be?
Temporarily make all accounts administrator accounts from the Accounts pane of System Preferences, and then open the Terminal in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder. Enter the following command:
sudo chown -R $UID ~
This command will prompt you for that account's password, which won't produce anything in the Terminal window while it is being typed. Press Enter after typing in the password, and the command will then be executed. This command needs to be performed in all of the accounts you've created on the machine.
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