Lost Admin account

Hi, I have just upgraded OSX server from 10.5.3 to 10.5.4 and strangely my administrator accounts are gone although my local user accounts are still there. Does anyone have an idea of the mistake I could of made. I did the update using the "Update OSX" option in the menu bar from my local account rather then from the admin account with the server preferences. Is this the reason? IS there an easy way to go take the system back, I have time machine backups?
sean

you can make a new password by reseting root/master password, boot from the install disk (hold down c on startup with the disk in the drive) and in the top left where it says installer ( the drop down menu bar) i think there is an option to change/reset the root/master password. if that works i think you just log in with username root and password whatever you set it to.
i think :?

Similar Messages

Lost Admin account while installing Leopard

While installing Leopard I've somehow lost my only Admin account. Consequently I can no longer install new software. I've attempted to boot backup using the Leopard install DVD and holding down the "C" key but it boots straight back into Leopard without the option to change the password. I've also attempted to boot into single user by holding down the Apple and "S" key but that didn't work ether. Of course attempting to reinstall Tiger doesn't work because I get a pop up that states it can't be installed. At this point I've ran out of options and look forward to any helpful suggestions.

Here is what I had to do:
Insert the 10.5 Install CD.
In the finder go to the 'Go' menu and select 'Go To Folder'
In the field provided type: /Volumes/Mac OS X Install DVD/Applications/Utilities and hit enter
Open the Startup Disk application
Select the install DVD as your start up disk. You must quit the start up disk app, it will not let you restart for it.
Restart the computer with the DVD in the drive.
You can now set or reset the password for the Administrator (root) account.
Set the start up disk as your normal start up disk. Reboot.
Log in with the id root and the password you set/reset
Open System Preferences
Select Accounts
Set the desired account to an admin accout.
Log out of root (This is VERY IMPORTANT)
log in to your admin account.
You may want to disable your root account at this point but since this issue could reoccur it may be better not to, though this creates certain security issues.
April.

Single user mode, Lost Admin Account, and Disk Permissions

Okay, so I have quite a few issues here. I will start from the beginning.
About a week ago, I tried to install some updates and I could not get the Admin account to work. I went to the users profile and noticed my Admin account was not there. Did a quick search and found Apple's outline of how to fix this via the Operational DVD and the root user. Tried this and it would never work, because as soon as I restarted the computer or changed screens it switched back to a standard account.
Next up, I went into the terminal to check the Admin User group. As it turns out it is not there. So I find a discussion on there that outlines how to rebuild this in single user mode and the Unix prompt. So, I print it off and try to restart in single user mode. After trying two different keyboards and a sum total of 8 to 10 times, I can't restart in single user mode to get to the Unix prompt.
One last thing, last night I went into the Disk Utility on the start-up DVD. I wanted to check the Repair Permission log and I got the following:
ACL found but not expected on "private/var/root/Library/Preferences"
ACL found but not expected on "private/var/root/Library/"
ACL found but not expected on "Network"
Thoughts?
Thanks for your help!
tpp

first, the ACL messages can be ignored. if you can't get to single user mode you can't fix your admin group. the only reasons that I know why you wouldn't be able to do that is
1. a defective keyboard
2. you have a firmware password set. have you? you'd have to turn it off before you can get to single user mode.
lastly when you restart in single user mode make sure you press command+s right after you hear the chime. do not press it too early or too late. lastly, I'm not sure which instructions you've found to fix the admin group but I have them in this thread
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8011324

Lost admin account now standard

My admin account has changed for some reason and now is a Standard account only. So I cannot upgrade any software or perform any admin functions on this iMac G4 now. How can I upgrade this account again to perform Admin functions ?
Many thanks,
Charles

Catch 22
It says start from your Mac OS X Install DVD. However to do so from System Preferences/Startup Disk requires an Administrator account and password which I no longer have as the admin account has disappeared.
Any other ideas anyone please ?
Thanks,
Charles

Lost Admin Account - Only Standard ones remain... Please Help!

Okay this one is a real kicker, About 10 months ago I helped a friend upgrade their iMac 1.6 G5 to Leopard. All went well and they installed all the updates etc.
A few month ago the Logic Board failed and they got a local Apple Engineers firm to replace the new logic board. They did this and the machine runs fine... however.
They now want help setting up a time machine drive, but... and here is comes... the accounts on the machine... all of them are Standard accounts. None of them are Administration accounts.
So the time machine setting are locked, I click the padlock to unlock and I get prompted for admin Username and Password... both fields are blank. SO I check in the Accounts settings to find that both Users on the machine are Standard and neither have Admin writes.
I can only presume that the company that replaced the logic board, created a new admin account, reset the other accounts to standard, did the work, then deleted the Admin account they created and forgot to reset the Standard accounts back to admin (I have spoken them and they deny all knowledge). before giving it back to my friend.
Is there anyway to find out what the Admin account details are...? Or maybe even root details... (in terminal) so I can at least unlock the User control panel and reset the user accounts back to admin.
Please help with this one... I didn't even know it was possible to run a MAc without an admin account?!

Then, try the steps in http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1274 and http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1323191 If nothing there works, then your only solution is to make copies of the Users and Applications folders to another disk, wipe the current one, reinstall the OS, create a new admin user account, use the migration assistant to transfer the Users to the machine, change their status to admin, ensure that works, and delete the new account. Do the same with the Applications or reinstall them. Once you sort things out, make a bootable backup/clone on an ext HD so this never occurs again.

Used Macbook and Lost Admin account

Hi everyone
I just bought used Macbook OSX V10.8.2 and there is an admin account that I do not know its password
is there a way I can make my own admin and delete this one ? or change the admin password ?
Thanks

Job done
thanks for asking mate

Can't get into Admin account

I came home the other day and my computer was off, meaning the power had apparently gone out. I turned it back on and everything seemed normal when I got to the login screen. I put in the password for my admin account and it started to log in like normal but then all of a sudden the screen goes black and this white text appears. It says something about Darwin at the top of the screen and asks for a login name and password. I type in the info and it says that no folder exists for my login name and it was logging me in as "/" or something close to that. Well I managed to figure out that typing exit gets me back to the main login screen. I signed into to one of the other accounts on the computer, and it worked fine (which is how I'm typing this now). I looked in the Users folder and strangely, the 2 non admin accounts had one folder each, but my admin account had four, named Admin 1, Admin 2, etc. I searched the Apple website for similar problems but couldn't find anything useful. Any ideas?

I'm not sure how much this may help.
Problems with lost Admin account, or
Restore admin user status.
If your admin user loses admin status for whatever reason (and it has happened to a few people), and you do not have a second admin account, then try the following:
Boot into single-user mode. At the prompt enter:
mount -uw /
nicl -raw /var/db/netinfo/local.nidb -merge /groups/admin users your-username-here
Press RETURN after each command.
To restart in OS X enter:
reboot
I recommend you write down these commands in a monospaced font. Be sure to carefully note where there are spaces in the command line.
Because of the abnormal shutdown I also suggest you do the following:
Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger and Leopard.) After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now restart normally.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (4.0 for Tiger, and 4.1 for Leopard) and/or TechTool Pro (4.6.1 for Leopard) to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.

I need to create a new admin account. But i lost the cd it came with and forgot my password. also can a cd be replaced

I need to create a new admin account. but i lost the cd that came with the macbook, and forgot my password. also can the cd be replaced.

You can purchase replacement discs from AppleCare:
Apple Store Customer Service at 1-800-676-2775 or visit online Help for more information.
To contact product and tech support visit online support site.
You can try the following to reset the password without the DVD:
How to change your username and/or password from the Terminal
1. Boot into single-user or verbose mode
2. At the prompt enter the following commands. Press RETURN after each:
fsck -fy
mount -uw /
launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.DirectoryServices.plist
dscl . -passwd /Users/username password
Replace username with the targeted user and password with the desired password.
reboot
This allows you to reset the password in single user mode without booting from the install media. The above tip is attributed to Satcomer.

I lost mine admin account

dear reader, by accident i lost mine admin account. i used the button 'remote direct' how an i recover the map?

Hello Again robdehop!
See if this I lost my admin user helps! Authored by Michael Conniff.
I also replied in your other Related Topic
It isn't usually necessary to post more than one Topic, about the same issue.
Good Luck!
ali b

Help !! I lost my only admin account and I don't have the root

Hello evrybody
I bought a MacBook and I was very happy with it. But I played whith the netinfo and I changed my only admin account's short name then it turned into a standard account.
I did not active the root account and I have the two CDs , but when i boot frome the CD I only have one option which is updating the system.
Anybody can help me ??

Hi Saudi.
OOOPS!
If your daily cron job hasn't run since you modified the netinfo DB, you can reload from the "dump" of it taken each day.
Boot your system single-user (Apple-S) at startup. Type mount -uw / and then ls -l /var/backups/local.nidump. Check the date. Is it a copy of the unmodified DB?
If so, Follow the instructions here to reload the DB from the dump.
Good luck,
John

I tried to make another account on my school Macbook Pro, made the Admin, account with the same name as the one I was using, deleted it and then all my desktop data is gone.

So, the problem is,
I used these school Macs right? They're school handed and stuff. Then one day I decided I want admin so I do this thing where I "reset" everything on the Macbook using this Video (at the bottom) http://www.wikihow.com/Reset-a-Lost-Admin-Password-on-Mac-OS-X
Then I do it, it takes me to the new User. That's not what I want so I shut down, then made an account with the same name as my current account (let's call it Y). Then I delete Y on purpose. I deleted it because I didn't want my school to know I had this account. Realise I wanted it again so I made an account, let's call it X then when I have X I deleted Y. Then I realised my AirDrop name said X so then I made a new account, this time let's call it Z, with Z I delete X and then I deleted Z because I don't want my school to know I have Z but then Z is also the same name as my main/current account. Somehow or something I delete my current account leaving me with Z. Now I can see my account and stuff but don't know how to restore it.
Picture will be provides later.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME. I HAVE SCHOOL TOMORROW AND I DON'T WANT MY PARENTS TO FIND OUT.

It is a bad idea to hack computer passwords when you don't own the computer
Good luck with the school and the parents.

My MacBook Pro (mid 2010) won't startup correctly in my admin account, but works fine if I use the guest account...

My MacBook Pro (mid-2010) suddenly stopped working when I was overseas, but I managed to fix it when I returned back to the States after I reformatted and erased the disk, then installed Yosemite. I lost most of my files but didn't really care, though I noticed that some pictures from iPhoto had survived and were in the Trash folder.
I thought I could copy/paste them back into iPhoto, but it wouldn't let me since they were still in the trash. I started getting an error message for EACH PICTURE saying it couldn't be copied because it was in the trash, and when I realized that I'd have to click "ok" 644 times (once for each picture), I tried to restart, then shut down, and eventually forced a shut down by holding down the power button. This is where the problem started...
After trying to startup again, I was able to login to my admin account, and the desktop image would load, but I'd get the spinning rainbow wheel and the computer would remain frozen like that from then on. I tried to repair the disk (there was nothing wrong), and even re-installed the operating system again, but still the problem persists. BUT, if I login with my guest account, everything works fine.
I'm guessing it has something to do with it somehow being frozen on those error messages for those 600+ pictures, but I have no idea how to fix/unfreeze it. Any tips or suggestions?

mozak wrote:
Can the use of SATA3 instead of SATA2 hdd lead to some issues with my macbook?
I can try to find and buy new SATA2 sdd hdd but they are expensive and I'm not sure it will fix the restarting issue.
SATA3 is backwards compatible with SATA2. That is not likely to be your problem.
Based on what you have done, I suggest a reinstall of the OSX.
Ciao.

Multiple admin accounts, need to delete one of them ... what happens?

Ok, short story shorter - broke up with my GF and she has an account on my laptop.
She has saved all her stuff, so I'm not worried about loosing personal files/documents.
My question is though, what else may be lost that I should be careful of.
• Will programs be lost?
I installed Adobe Suite through her account, will that be removed as well? That's an application though, that I set for 'all users'.
• Will there be any change to system, or cause errors if that was the main Admin account?
By deleting an Admin that was in use 50% of the time, are there any system problems that may happen after I delete?
From what I remember, the system when I created another Admin account it just treated it as if someone just set up their MBP for the first time - ie. they seem to be completely independant.
Basically, I just want to make sure my experience (in my account) does not change once I've pressed the delete button.
Much thanks in advance.
-NTFW

Thanks andyBall_uk,
I can confirm that there are no files/data/passwords that I'm concerned about loosing on the account I want to delete.
*BUT, on the account I want to delete - I installed Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop.
These programs are usable on my account as well, I see them in my Application folder even though I only installed it once.
Are you saying it will delete Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop because it was installed on that Admin account?
Thanks very much for the help!

Hi I have adobe CC for teams, a team member is having problems opening indesign we are being asked for a serial number, ive checked on our admin account and he is one our our registered 'members'. I wasnt the person who set this up originally so I'm a bit

Hi I have adobe CC for teams, a team member is having problems opening indesign we are being asked for a serial number, ive checked on our admin account and he is one our our registered 'members'. I wasn't the person who set this up originally so I'm a bit lost, i cant seem to find any serial numbers on the my account section and it seems we have no registered products? can you help?

Hi There,
We have checked the details of your team, all seat are assigned properly.
Now there are few details that we would need in a Private Message so that I can assist you appropriately.
Name of the user:
Email of the user:
Meanwhile, try the below mentioned links.
Creative Cloud applications ask for serial number
Sign in, activation, or connection errors | CS5.5 and later, Acrobat DC
[Note: Details that we need is critical, make sure you send them in via Private Message only.]
Thanks,
Atul Saini

How to delete admin account and keep my original account (that is now being listed as standard or managed)?

I created another account using parental controls and somehow that new account is managing my first original one. The new account is being listed as admin in Users & Groups. When I logged into my original account, I go on Users & Groups to delete that admin account and the little minus - sign is greyed out.
Also I need to add that before I do all that, I go on the padlock button and I have to enter that new account's username and password/. I am so lost!!

Did you ever find an answer cuz I am curious too!

Lost Admin account

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