IMac won't switch to new user on logout

I have an number of iMacs that are doing the same thing. When a user goes to logout, the iMacs will get to the default background and that is as far as they will go. They will not get to the login screen so that another user can login. Some of the computers are running 10.4.x and some are running 10.5.x. What puzzles me is it must not be the operating system, since I have seen it on Tiger and also Leopard. I have to hard crash the machines, but holding the power button for about 30 seconds. If the power button is not held long enough, the computer will just come back to screen where is what at where this all started.
Has anyone else come acrorss this problem? Does anyone know a cure? Some of the machines are under warranty and some are not, so I am stuck on getting any help from Apple unless they keep track of items in this forum.
Thanks
DR

You might try the following:
You will need to type some Unix commands. If you are not comfortable with this, I don't know of anything other than a re-install. But if you are careful, you should be OK. I recommend you print this out in a largish mono-spaced font so you don't miss any spaces (or add extra ones). Note that case is important.
Be careful. Some of these commands are dangerous, since you are going to be root.
Start up in Single-User mode by restarting the computer. After the chime press and hold down the COMMAND-S keys until you see white text on a black background. When this has finished you will see a prompt ending in '#', although there may be other messages. Enter the following commands after the prompt:
/sbin/fsck -fy
Press RETURN. Wait a few seconds for 8-10 lines of output. If the last line says repairs were carried out, repeat this command until you get a message 'The volume <yourdiskname> appears to be OK'. Then continue with:
/sbin/mount -uw /
cd /Library/Preferences
rm com.apple.loginwindow.plist
rm com.apple.windowserver.plist
cd /Library/Caches
rm -r *
cd /System/Library
rm Extensions.kextcache
rm Extensions.mkext
cd /System/Library/Caches
rm -r *
reboot
Press RETURN after each command.
This should now take you to a proper login screen after the normal boot sequence. You should then Repair Permissions by using Disk Utility (in your /Applications/Utilities folder).
+If any of the files listed above cannot be found just ignore the relevant command line+.

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Message was edited by: Pondini

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You can recreate the missing file.
cd /var/db
mac $ ls -la .AppleSetupDone
-rw------- 1 root wheel 1060 Nov 24 2007 .AppleSetupDone
pico .AppleSetupDone
copy & paste this into pico:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
   <key>Address</key>
   <dict>
   <key>AreaCode</key>
   <string>111</string>
   <key>City</key>
   <string>City</string>
   <key>Company</key>
   <string></string>
   <key>CountryName</key>
   <string>name</string>
   <key>ExistingEmailAddress</key>
   <string></string>
   <key>FirstName</key>
   <string>Robert</string>
   <key>LastName</key>
   <string>last</string>
   <key>LocalPhoneNumber</key>
   <string>1111111</string>
   <key>StateProv</key>
   <string>st</string>
   <key>StreetAddr1</key>
   <string>1 St</string>
   <key>StreetAddr2</key>
   <string></string>
   <key>ZipPostal</key>
   <string>00000</string>
   </dict>
   <key>RegistrationInfo</key>
   <dict>
   <key>AppleSpam</key>
   <string>NO</string>
   <key>Location</key>
   <string>z</string>
   <key>Occupation</key>
   <string>0</string>
   <key>OthersSpam</key>
   <string>NO</string>
   </dict>
</dict>
</plist>
*now type:*
control-x
y
This information does not apply to accounts that have filevault. I do not believe that you can change the password to a filevault account with in these methods.
Overview on how to fix password problems
Try running repair permissions and check for file integrity in disk utility. You do this from your startup disk. Try resetting the password by using the passswd or try deleting the .applesetupdone file. If this doesn't work, you are going to have to trash the netinfo database. Once you get logged on, you will need to re-access your data.
Disk Utility
This article deals with disk recovery, it will tell you how to get to disk utility.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1417
Change Password
Mac OS X:
Changing or resetting an account password via GUI:
Resetting a user's password
Resetting the original administrator account password
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106156
You do not have a CD/DVD
Changing password from single user mode:
You can also change the administrator's password from single user mode or create a new administrator account.
You need to get into single use mode for steps one and two that are listed below.
This page will tell you how to get into single user mode.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1492
Basically, you hold down the command-s key then powering on your machine. The command key has a little apple symbol on the lower left. It is between the alt/option key and the space bar. On a PC keyboard, it will be the windows key, I think.
1) You can change the password on an account. ( Do you know Unix. You are in a Unix single user console. ) The setup commands you need should be listed on the screen. For Mac OS 10.4.11, the commands are:
# Type the follow two instructions to access the startup disk in read/write:
/sbin/fsck -fy
/sbin/mount -uw /
# Start up some utility processes that are needed.
sh /etc/rc
# You will probably need to press the return key once the system stops typing.
# To find out the users on the system type, use the list command. The l is a lower case L:
ls /Users
# One of these accounts will be the administrator.
# Pick one of the users which I'll call a-user-name and type it in this command:
passwd a-user-name
# and enter the new user password. You need six characters.
# You will need to enter your password twice. Your typing will not show up on the screen just
# press enter when you complete the typing.
# For cryptic information on these commands try:
man ls
man passwd
The root account isn't enabled by default. I am not sure if changing the password on root will enable it.
2) Get the Mac to set up an additional administrative account. You can then change the password on your old account.
Start with your computer power off. Hold down command-s. Power on your computer.
Type in the following:
The first two commands will depend on your release of Mac OS X. Look at what is typed out in the console to determine the exact format.
# Type the follow two instructions to access the startup disk in read/write. Press return after each command.
/sbin/fsck -fy
/sbin/mount -uw /
cd /var/db
pwd
#List all files. The l is a lower case L.
ls -a
#The move command acts as a rename command in this format.
mv -i .applesetupdone .applesetupdone.old
reboot
Once you've done that the computer reboots and it's like the first time you used the machine. Your old accounts are all safe. From there you just change all other account passwords in the account preferences!!
Limnos adds detailed explainations:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8441597#8441597
The above the idea came from a post by JoseAranda at September 9, 2006 3:48 AM
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/howdo_i_reset_my_mac_os_x_admin_rootpassword.html
You will need to scroll down to see this post. Search for applesetupdone
Or see:
http://superpixel.ch/articles/running-setup-assistant-again/
Once you have a new administrative account, you can change the password of your old administrative account
blue apple > System Preferences > Accounts
• You can see that it is easy to change your administrator password. You can set a firmware password that you enter before your machine will boot.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352
• For the best data security, you should use FileVault. Create a good logon password. Define and use a good backup plan. I do not recommend using FileVault unless you really need the security because it is much harder to recover your data should you have a hard drive problem and you do not have your data backed up.

IMac won't switch to new user on logout

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