OS 10.4 - I messed up. Help.

tempbmx · tempbmx #1 (**permalink**)

08-17-2009, 05:10 PM

Fixing my sister-n-law's macbook, its running 10.4.6 if not, .3

Anyway, it went from simply just trying to reset her password for her, booted an OSX disc, went to the reset utility, and in the drop down, I didnt select her user name, I selected root. Great.

I didnt note down her actual User name either, but i remember the first time i did the disc boot, her name WAS in the drop down list of users, that i THOUGHT i clicked to reset the password.

Since then, No password matched and no user name matched when i reboot the computer.

Ive read tons, im not a COMPLETE mac n00b, but im not a macgenius either.

So ontop of that, i've tried doing the whole mount and .applesetupdone method, and now when i go through the whole creating a new user process, it freezes after the screen im supposed to have after i enter all the user information, just takes me to a white line, and freezes.

My main concern, is that she just wants all of her pictures saved. Should i pull the hard drive and dump them into my other mac ? or is it too late and i whiped out all her stuff.

Please, anyone help. Im an avid reader and still havent found the awnser, created this name just to post on the boards. Thanks in advance.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #2 (**permalink**)

08-17-2009, 05:16 PM

Ohh dear. Have a good read of this link and see if any of the suggestions work, but you must have the Tiger install DVD. Keep us posted?

no user and root password how to get it [Archive] - Mac Forums

tempbmx · tempbmx #3 (**permalink**)

08-17-2009, 05:25 PM

I have no Tiger Install DVD. however i DO have a ..ehem...Ideneb 1.4 Leopard disk that is atleast getting me back into the Password reset utility and stuff.

Do i still want to read that? [knowing im going to skim it ]

tempbmx · tempbmx #4 (**permalink**)

08-17-2009, 05:31 PM

That link wassn't anything good for me.

Again, when people say make SURE not to select Root, and to choose your Mac user name, i DID choose The Admin, NOT the user. So yes im defitnally a bonehead. But what can I do to salvage from this point?

im really most concerned if I can just pull the drive and get the right files off of it. If I can, then ill just do that and format this sucka.

tempbmx · tempbmx #5 (**permalink**)

08-18-2009, 12:41 AM

please, anyone?

Collin Bl · Collin Bl #6 (**permalink**)

08-18-2009, 04:06 AM

Another choice - start SiL macbook in target mode by holding T key and connect it to another mac (with firewire not sure about USB) and the Macbook drive will show up on other macs desktop then you can copy all files you want to that Mac then you can disconnect and do a reformat on the macbook. Then copy all back to newly set up drive.

tempbmx · tempbmx #7 (**permalink**)

08-18-2009, 11:17 AM

again.

I pulled the hard drive. I can get all the files.

Thats not what im goen for. I need to fix the apple login.

Isnt there a easy way without reformat?

Like cant i make a new user in the users folder?
anything to repair it?

I tried doing the .applesetupdone and it freezes in 1 ofthe steps of the setup process.

so i did touch /var/db/.applesetupdone and it just brings me back to a login screen that NO password is correct for the user name.

even after all the attempts at making a password for root.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #8 (**permalink**)

08-18-2009, 06:25 PM

Do not think the hackintosh version will do anything for you other than complicate things even more and we do not touch that here in these forums. Looks like a format and clean install with your sister's Tiger disc.

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OS 10.4 - I messed up. Help.

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tempbmx #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 17, 2009 Posts: 5	08-17-2009, 05:10 PM Fixing my sister-n-law's macbook, its running 10.4.6 if not, .3 Anyway, it went from simply just trying to reset her password for her, booted an OSX disc, went to the reset utility, and in the drop down, I didnt select her user name, I selected root. Great. I didnt note down her actual User name either, but i remember the first time i did the disc boot, her name WAS in the drop down list of users, that i THOUGHT i clicked to reset the password. Since then, No password matched and no user name matched when i reboot the computer. Ive read tons, im not a COMPLETE mac n00b, but im not a macgenius either. So ontop of that, i've tried doing the whole mount and .applesetupdone method, and now when i go through the whole creating a new user process, it freezes after the screen im supposed to have after i enter all the user information, just takes me to a white line, and freezes. My main concern, is that she just wants all of her pictures saved. Should i pull the hard drive and dump them into my other mac ? or is it too late and i whiped out all her stuff. Please, anyone help. Im an avid reader and still havent found the awnser, created this name just to post on the boards. Thanks in advance.
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,086 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	08-17-2009, 05:16 PM Ohh dear. Have a good read of this link and see if any of the suggestions work, but you must have the Tiger install DVD. Keep us posted? no user and root password how to get it [Archive] - Mac Forums
	QUOTE Thanks

tempbmx #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 17, 2009 Posts: 5	08-17-2009, 05:31 PM That link wassn't anything good for me. Again, when people say make SURE not to select Root, and to choose your Mac user name, i DID choose The Admin, NOT the user. So yes im defitnally a bonehead. But what can I do to salvage from this point? im really most concerned if I can just pull the drive and get the right files off of it. If I can, then ill just do that and format this sucka.
	QUOTE Thanks

tempbmx #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 17, 2009 Posts: 5	08-18-2009, 12:41 AM please, anyone?
	QUOTE Thanks

Collin Bl #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 07, 2009 Location: Napier NZ Posts: 3,273 Mac Specs: 27 iMac i5, 2.4 C2D MBP & iMac 20, 1TB dual TC, AppleTV, iPh4	08-18-2009, 04:06 AM Another choice - start SiL macbook in target mode by holding T key and connect it to another mac (with firewire not sure about USB) and the Macbook drive will show up on other macs desktop then you can copy all files you want to that Mac then you can disconnect and do a reformat on the macbook. Then copy all back to newly set up drive.
	QUOTE Thanks

tempbmx #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 17, 2009 Posts: 5	08-18-2009, 11:17 AM again. I pulled the hard drive. I can get all the files. Thats not what im goen for. I need to fix the apple login. Isnt there a easy way without reformat? Like cant i make a new user in the users folder? anything to repair it? I tried doing the .applesetupdone and it freezes in 1 ofthe steps of the setup process. so i did touch /var/db/.applesetupdone and it just brings me back to a login screen that NO password is correct for the user name. even after all the attempts at making a password for root.
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,086 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	08-18-2009, 06:25 PM Do not think the hackintosh version will do anything for you other than complicate things even more and we do not touch that here in these forums. Looks like a format and clean install with your sister's Tiger disc.
	QUOTE Thanks

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