iMac not allowing password to be typed on start up screen

[ColumB]

Hi All,
New here and not a computer boffin. I have an iMac. It's about 4yrs old. 21.5" LED backlit display, 2.7GHz quad-core Intel core i5, 4mb L3 cache, pre installed OSX, I think I'm now running El Cap. Wireless keyboard & Magic Mouse (new batteries in both).
I turned it on this morning and it will not allow me to type my password on the start up screen. I have shut down several times but still nothing. I can get into as a 'guest' and type, so the keyboard appears to be ok.
(Using my iPhone to type this.)
Any suggestions as to what to do or additional info ye magicians need....
Cheers,
C

 

[MacInWin]

Do you have a wired keyboard to use to get logged into your account? Doing that would get you to where you can do more diagnostics.

 

[ColumB]

@MacInWin I do not have a wired keyboard at the moment but I can get my hands on one....

 

[ColumB]

I just hooked up my old mac keyboard. Still the same issue. Won't let me type anything...

 

[MacInWin]

Try resetting the SMC:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

and then the NVRAM:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

 

[chscag]

I turned it on this morning and it will not allow me to type my password on the start up screen. I have shut down several times but still nothing. I can get into as a 'guest' and type, so the keyboard appears to be ok.

If you can log on as a guest, your keyboard and BT are working OK. No need for a wired keyboard to test with. Now... the $64,000 question, do you have a backup? Something may have clobbered your account. Have you recently installed new software or made any other changes to your account? We need to know details, if any. However, if you do have a backup, now is the time to restore to before you were locked out of your account.

 

[ColumB]

@chscag have not backed up for a while as I needed a new external HD. The only thing I tried to recently install was Flash Player. Otherwise nothing. Still can't type anything in password. Stressed as I need access to folders.... please any help???

 

[ColumB]

I have reset SMC and NVRAM... to no avail. Still cannot type password ??

 

[ferrarr]

If the keyboard works, try to get into Recovery to run Disk Utility > First Aid. Or, start up in Safe Mode?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

 

[ColumB]

@ferrarr ... Will any of these actions erase folders, music or photos I have on my iMac???

 

[IWT]

@ferrarr ... Will any of these actions erase folders, music or photos I have on my iMac???

I'll answer for Bob - no it won't.

These are standard troubleshooting manoeuvres.

Ian

 

[JamesInSanDiego]

You may have checked this but is your caps lock key down/set?

 

[ColumB]

@ferrarr @IWT thanks Bob and Ian.
I did the Disc Utility > First Aid and then started up in Safe Mode as per your link. Safe Mode allowed me to type password... screen glitched several times before desktop appeared. As instructed on your Safe Mode link, I presumed issue was resolved. I restarted without pressing any other keys, but issue was still there. I could not type in my password.
Any ideas what else I can do guys????? (((

 

[ferrarr]

Go back into Safe Mode and start copying your files on to another drive, it sounds to me, like a reinstall may be necessary. Right now, your first priority is to back up all your important data, after you are sure it is all backed up, come back and then we can work through more procedures.

 

[ColumB]

@ferrarr seriously Bob? Didn't think it would be that much of an issue!!! Jesus ��
I will have to get a new external HD anyway.
Just tried to play some of my albums. The scroll screen is strobing like crazy and the iMac will not play any of my tunes.
The album artwork is there and track listings .... but no music.
If I hook up a new external HD will they be transferred with sound?
I have about 20,000 photos & 530 albums along with Adobe CS4 and a few other bits...
Would I be better just throwing it into a Mac repair shop???

 

[ferrarr]

@ferrarr seriously Bob? Didn't think it would be that much of an issue!!! Jesus ��
I will have to get a new external HD anyway.
Just tried to play some of my albums. The scroll screen is strobing like crazy and the iMac will not play any of my tunes.
The album artwork is there and track listings .... but no music.
If I hook up a new external HD will they be transferred with sound?
I have about 20,000 photos & 530 albums along with Adobe CS4 and a few other bits...
Would I be better just throwing it into a Mac repair shop???

It's your call. Whatever is best for you, but most places suggest you backup before you bring it in, because they do not want to be held responsible for data loss. As long as you have a backup of your important data, and you are satisfied with that, then you are all set. I was only suggesting what I would do next, if this situation happened to me. You can keep trying other fixes if you want, it's your call.

 

[MacInWin]

Safe Mode has the challenges you have seen. That is because Safe Mode doesn't allow any add on drivers to install at boot and uses only the safest, dumbest, most simple libraries to get access. It's not intended as a "run every day" mode. So the idea is to use Safe Mode to find out what is hanging up your system. The fact that the keyboard works in Safe mode means that the problem is something that loads at boot, which is why Ferrar is reaching the "reinstall" decision. Some file has been borked that is used in the regular boot process.

You CAN reinstall over the existing system and it SHOULD be safe for your data. But CAN and SHOULD doesn't mean RECOMMENDED and SAFE. I'd make a backup from Safe Mode, then reinstall over exiting to see if that fixed the problem. If it does, and if it didn't overwrite your data, you are good to go. If it doesn't fix, you have a deeper problem that we probably aren't going to solve here. If it fixes the problem but you lose your data, you have the backup to recover.

Next move is up to you.

 

[crisscross01]

I am not an expert, but recently had trouble with my primary account and there is a procedure for making it a 'deleted account' from the guest account, then re-instating it. My note from the time:
"The happy ending: After getting a new external HD and doing a TM back-up I followed the 2nd part of the procedure outlined in http://www.cnet.com/uk/how-to/how-to...count-in-os-x/ and it has worked. As soon as I logged into the repaired account..."

But as everyone else has said you really have to get a back-up done as move 1 and the experts suggestions are more serious than mine as as a guy who just wants to get on with his work