Leopard: Administrator privileges gone

[mrzeve]

After upgrading (and having the install fail once, and then have the new mac version of blue screen of death) I have now noticed that the admin privileges on my account are now gone.

I cant authenticate anything and my account is listed as "Standard" in the preferences pane.

I came home from Florida last night and left the install disc in my dorm. Any way to do this without using the Password Reset on the dvd? Regardless, I dont think it would help, since there isnt even an admin account listed.

Any help?

[aussie_geek]

There is a fix.

I ran into this problem with my PowerBook. My other Mac's were ok.

Step 1: Boot in single user mode (Single user mode bypasses the GUI, which is all the visual stuff, and gives you something called "root access") by pressing Command + S (Apple+S) when the first shade of blue appears on the screen, and holding it down until the screen turns black with white text.

Step 2: Wait for all the code stuff to load. Now, the first thing we need to do in single user mode is mount the hard drive so we can edit it. You enter this command in : /sbin/mount -uw /

It should say something about removing orphaned unlinked files.

Step 3: We are going to delete a little file that tells your computer every time you start up that you've completed the setup by entering this commmand: rm /var/db/.applesetupdone

It should just bump down, waiting fotr the next command if it worked.

Step 4: Now type, reboot

Step 5: It should shut down and reboot. Than, a setup window will appear, asking you what language you want your computer to be in, just like you see when you setup a newly purchased Mac.

WARNING: A welcome video will play after you select the language. It has some pretty cool music, but if your in a room with other people, I'd mute it right after the video starts.

Step 6: Setup the computer. Select "DO NOT TRANSFER MY DATA". Don't worry, all your old stuff will still be there. Choose your internet connection and network, here is where you need your WEP or security password if you have one.

Step 7: Create a new local account to administer that computer. You usually want to enter the name of the computer as the longname, and the shortname what you'll log in as. Say your computer's old name was "Frank's Computer", than just put Frank as the longname, because it will automatically as "'s Computer" at the end. MAKE SURE THAT BOTH USERNAMES ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE EXSISTING ONES, OTHERWISE IT WILL OVERWRITE.

Step 8: Finish the setup, and you should automatically be logged into your new administrator account.

After logging into your admin account, go to system preferences and open the accounts pane. Select your old account and enable it as an admin account. Logout of the one you have just made and re- login using your original account. You now should be an administrator again. You can go back to system preferences and delete the account you made in the exercise.


ps - in step 7 it is really important about the account names. I used BillyGates as mine.
aussie_geek

[Emrtr4]

Is there any easier way?

This happened to me too and there must be some way to do it from inside the OS.

And btw Apple-myself included, this is the fourth major issue i've encountered amongst my friends who upgraded.

[aussie_geek]

Is there any easier way?

This happened to me too and there must be some way to do it from inside the OS.

And btw Apple-myself included, this is the fourth major issue i've encountered amongst my friends who upgraded.

No that I know of. It's pretty easy.
Boot into single user,
delete the file,
reboot,
setup a new account
go to system prefs and enable your old account as an admin one
logout
login as your account
delete the one you made.


It's a 10 min job mate. :)

aussie_geek

[iVoid]

delete the one you made.

aussie_geek



It might be a good idea to keep the new admin account around as an emergency admin user.

Even though I only use my home Mac, I have an emergency user on it just in case my main account gets locked or unusable for some reason.

[aussie_geek]

It might be a good idea to keep the new admin account around as an emergency admin user.

Even though I only use my home Mac, I have an emergency user on it just in case my main account gets locked or unusable for some reason.

Good point. Might do that! :D


aussie_geek

[nampa07]

I am facing similar issues after leopard upgrade... my admin rights are lost and cannot log in as admin... I tried the solution posted by aussie_geek and while deleting the applesetupdone file it gives me this "override -w----r-- root/wheel for .AppleSetupDone?" and does not allow me to delete the file... not sure what to do now..

Any other solution for this...

thanks..

[deoson]

easier solution:

boot into single user mode just like aussie geek instructed with "apple + s" while turning on your mac.

then after after typing "/sbin/mount -uw /"

type "passwd"

then type what you want for your root password...

then type reboot


log into your account... go to the accounts preference pane and click the lock at the bottom left...this time when prompted for username/password use:

User: root
password: (one you just created)

tada!

now upgrade your account to admin....

logout and back in and you're good as gold.

[soffici]

Hi all!
I tried the second version (the simpler one) and it worked perfectly:).
Thanks all for posting good ideas.

BTW doesn't Leopard seem to be slowing down the computer compared to 10.4.10:confused::eek::mad:?
Just an impression
Maybe Mr Jobs should tell us something?
Cheers
Antonio
:apple:

[jenmenke]

I've tried the suggestions, but after a string of odd errors in the terminal mode or single user mode which I can't remember, but had something like "family specific matching fails" for the keyboard and trackpad, I entered the
/sbin/fsck -fy and /sbin/mount -uw commands and after a LONG time it came bask with "macintosh HD is OK" (or something) and then "checking..." various things then the blinking cursor with
/: root#

what does that mean? I'm too scared to type anything else. Please help.I can't do anything right now because I have no priviledges. I've got to reinstall some printer drivers, etc.etc.

I have an external 10.4 boot drive. Can I get the repair done from there?

[ShellyFM]

I just noticed the same problem, but mine came up long after I installed Leopard. I did a clean install of Leopard on 10/26.

Today, I changed my computer's name due to the Apple support article titled Mac OS X 10.5: Time Machine backups are not visible (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306928).

Shortly after this, I noticed that my user account no longer had administer privileges. My user account is the only user account (other than the guest account) on the computer. So, now there is no administrator account at all.

I'll try the suggestions above and see what happens.

[ShellyFM]

The short version above worked.

Is there a way to reverse the setting of the root password? I assume that it was not set before this, correct?

In case I need to fix this in the future, I would hate to think I could possibly forget the root password and lock myself out for good. However, if I set it back to the way it was just before I made this change, then all I would have to do is follow these steps again.

[Sharkey]

Thanks everyone for the help but I have one small problem. I have leopard on my macbook and lost my admin rights also. My problem is that 'apple-s' on bootup brings me to a signin box. Is there another way to enter the system changes mentioned above?

My permissions are denied when I try to make any changes in Terminal.

Bill




I just noticed the same problem, but mine came up long after I installed Leopard. I did a clean install of Leopard on 10/26.

Today, I changed my computer's name due to the Apple support article titled Mac OS X 10.5: Time Machine backups are not visible (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306928).

Shortly after this, I noticed that my user account no longer had administer privileges. My user account is the only user account (other than the guest account) on the computer. So, now there is no administrator account at all.

I'll try the suggestions above and see what happens.

[ShellyFM]

Anybody know how to do this?

The short version above worked.

Is there a way to reverse the setting of the root password? I assume that it was not set before this, correct?

In case I need to fix this in the future, I would hate to think I could possibly forget the root password and lock myself out for good. However, if I set it back to the way it was just before I made this change, then all I would have to do is follow these steps again.

[ashcat]

I lost administrator privileges too when I installed Leopard. Thanks deoson & aussie_geek - the short method above worked for me too. All I'd say - for other beginners like me - is that I had to press command-S straight away, BEFORE the blue screen appeared, otherwise it booted up the normal way.

I still have a problem with file permissions, not sure if it is related - there are some files which I now cannot delete or change - eg an iMovie file - it says I don't have permissions. When I do File Info on this file, under the Sharing & Permissions tab, there are three Names listed - 'system, (unknown), everyone'. My username is not listed at all. The '(unknown)' Name has the privilege 'Read only' and it will not change to Read and Write. I tried running Repair Permissions in Disk Utility, but it doesn't help.

Another complication is that after installing Leopard, I upgraded to a bigger harddrive, and everything was cloned across to the new one - not sure if that could be the culprit instead of Leopard.

Any idea what has happened or how to fix it? Apologies if this is off topic, I'm not sure if it's the same issue or not.

james

[ben/jegek]

i lost admin privileges a couple times before i found this thread, thought it was just me. has anyone successfully used an auxilliary admin account to circumvent this? maybe all admin accounts turn into standard ones..?

[ozchap]

The same happened to me. But I had 3 admin accounts on my macbook, all were reset. The second method described here worked like a charm.

[joegomolski]

deoson,


Thank you so much!

I was ready to, well be very mad.

Thanks for the solution.

[veronika]

I have followed both instructions above and created a new admin account as well as a root account. Seems to work fine. However, when I attempt to reset the password for my original account it seems OK but then it still is not recognized when I try to log in. Any suggestions?

[ZFuzzy]

The short version above worked.

Is there a way to reverse the setting of the root password? I assume that it was not set before this, correct?

In case I need to fix this in the future, I would hate to think I could possibly forget the root password and lock myself out for good. However, if I set it back to the way it was just before I made this change, then all I would have to do is follow these steps again.

ShellyFM, you can reverse this by running "Directory Utility", from the Finder - go to Applications -> Utilities. After this runs click on the Lock icon, log yourself in then go to "Edit" on the menu and you can choose to disable Root. Hope that helps.

[Mal]

I've tried the suggestions, but after a string of odd errors in the terminal mode or single user mode which I can't remember, but had something like "family specific matching fails" for the keyboard and trackpad, I entered the
/sbin/fsck -fy and /sbin/mount -uw commands and after a LONG time it came bask with "macintosh HD is OK" (or something) and then "checking..." various things then the blinking cursor with
/: root#

what does that mean? I'm too scared to type anything else. Please help.I can't do anything right now because I have no priviledges. I've got to reinstall some printer drivers, etc.etc.

I have an external 10.4 boot drive. Can I get the repair done from there?

That's exactly what it's supposed to do. When you get the /: root# command, just enter step 3 above and then continue from there. Don't work, you're not likely to do any damage, just make sure you type the rm command exactly as written and you won't have any trouble.

jW

[WhiteNoiseMaker]

easier solution:

boot into single user mode just like aussie geek instructed with "apple + s" while turning on your mac.

then after after typing "/sbin/mount -uw /"

type "passwd"

then type what you want for your root password...

then type reboot


log into your account... go to the accounts preference pane and click the lock at the bottom left...this time when prompted for username/password use:

User: root
password: (one you just created)

tada!

now upgrade your account to admin....

logout and back in and you're good as gold.

Thanks for this tip its a one I will be sure not to forget! I can't believe its so easy to lose admin status! This tip has saved me loads of time, thanks so much :D

Are there any problems that might show up later with regards to setting the root password? I'm sure I never set the password for the root account during set-up, now its changed from whatever the system default is.

EDIT: just noticed ZFuzzy post about removing root user! thanks for that.

[vitopod]

easier solution:

boot into single user mode just like aussie geek instructed with "apple + s" while turning on your mac..

Hi,
I had the same problem with my Imac Intel but even can't type quite anything on my keyboard while booting (keyboard tested).
If I try command+s i have no response.
If i try to boot from Leopard DVD or external HD no results. :(
But it goes in Target mode. I haven't figure out other ideas on how to access my previous admin account :(((
Any new ideas?
thanks

UPDATE: it turns out that Leopard has enabled my Firmware password and set one i don't know. Maybe i am not the only one that had this problem. Any solution you know?
thanks

[itgoesforfun]

Short solution worked perfectly. Thanks! This is the worst upgrade experience i've had with a Mac, including the original OSX fun. Had the lovely BSOD and then this darn mystery Admin deletion which drove me up the wall. So far everything else seems to be OK with Leopard and running quite smoothly and ugh, snappy.

[Sealevel]

I can't even get it to switch to single user or start from leopard disc. Can't update, nothing works to get rid of standard user. It only comes on to standard user and guest. Any help is welcome!

[jnette]

OK.. did something foolish myself last noc...

my Graphite SE Clamshell was given to me by a friend who had since purchased a new iBook, and I thought I'd just reset everything to my name now instead of hers.... :eek: BIG MISTAKE.

Of course I now cannot even log in. I even have her user/admin name and her password, but it STILL will not take it. I believe it's because I deleted it from the "infonet" part of the system as the "superadministrator".

So now I'm in the same boat as the posters above. I was able to boot up by following the instructions given, but since I haven't "command typed" in AGES, after I type in the command, do I have to hit "enter" or any particular key to make it do what it should?

Or just type in what was written above and let it go? No key after that?

Thanx so much for any help.. by the way, this is OSX 10.1

When I follow the instructions given above it tells me there is "no such file or directory".. is there something different I need to be doing with the OSX 10.1 ?

I just got off the phone with the wireless folks after having gotten things up and running with the router, and I was soooooo excited to check it out and get online, and SURPRISE... couldn't even log on, period! :(

oh.. and the command screen (above where I type my own command.. in all that writing above) says something to the effect of "single user boot-fsck not done" and "root device is mounted read only".

[jnette]

Well, I've played with this thing until I'm ready to pull my hair out. :mad:

I've tried everything I can think of.

I followed all the command screen intructions and typed in reboot, which it did just fine.. but that STILL only brought me back to square one.. the screen with the "log in" ..name and password... which I don't HAVE. :rolleyes:

Not the once you're in the system "account" name/login", but the major one.. the initial one... which you need in order to even get ANYWHERE, access to ANYTHING... you know.. desktop, the works.

I guess from what I've been reading on the command screen, there are :

uid=0
gid=0

and some other Gid (Ithink) =0

So there are no id's in the system anymore. I even tried typing in "default id", "accounts", "new id", "new user id" ....but there were no commands for those.

How on earth am I going to get back in???

I did type in "passwd" at some point on the command screen, and it asked for a new password.. which I typed in..then it asked me to retype it, and I did.

So I have a password, but still no NAME ID which it will accept.

Any suggestions out there? *boohoo*

[Mal]

In the command line screen, by which I assume you mean a single-user boot, type mount uw /
rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
reboot

That will force the computer to run through the setup assistant again, just as it did when the machine was brand new. Make a new account with a different name than you previously had, and then log into that new account. BTW, it's very important that it have a new name and not the previous one, because if it's the same name as before, it will overwrite the old user folder and all of your data. Then, you can go into System Preferences and make the old user account an administrator again, or if it's not present, if you add it from there and give it the same short name as previously (which is the name of the home folder) it will ask you if you want to use the existing folder as the home folder for that account. You can then log into your old account and delete the new one you made in this process.

Make sure you repair permissions after doing all of that, though, as they might well have gotten seriously screwed up in all of that messing around.

jW

[jnette]

In the command line screen, by which I assume you mean a single-user boot, type mount uw /
rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
reboot

That will force the computer to run through the setup assistant again, just as it did when the machine was brand new. Make a new account with a different name than you previously had, and then log into that new account. BTW, it's very important that it have a new name and not the previous one, because if it's the same name as before, it will overwrite the old user folder and all of your data. Then, you can go into System Preferences and make the old user account an administrator again, or if it's not present, if you add it from there and give it the same short name as previously (which is the name of the home folder) it will ask you if you want to use the existing folder as the home folder for that account. You can then log into your old account and delete the new one you made in this process.

Make sure you repair permissions after doing all of that, though, as they might well have gotten seriously screwed up in all of that messing around.

jW Thank you so much for responding. When I go to type in what you wrote above, do I have to type it exactly the same way (as in "sections", or one line, then another line below, and again another line below as you did?) or do I just type it in until all commands you typed above are typed in?

And if I must do one line after another, how do I do that without getting that little white "block" at the end of each command.. can I keep typing even after that little block appears and it goes back to "local host:/root#" ?

I'm getting ready to try this now, and I'm a bit nervous here... http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/nervoussmiley.gif

[jnette]

Well.. I typed everything in on one line, EXCEPT for reboot. I typed that in after (second line) I typed the other commands you gave.

It went through a lot of codes, and stuff I don't understand several times, mentioning "panic" several times, "obj~RELEASE_PPC", bunches of "stack backtraces, etc., "proceeding back via exception chain", "exception state", etc., etc., etc.

And Kernel version: Darwin Kernel version such and such, date, etc., and finally the last line "panic: we are hanging here..."

It's been "hanging like that for about ten minutes or more now.

Do I need to DO anything now??? http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/sigh.gif

[jnette]

Still "hanging"..................

It's been over an hour. I'm just wondering if there's something I'm suppose to type in there now.. in the commands.

But it's not showing the usual "local host" thing, as it usually does when it's your turn to type in a command. So I'm just waiting to hear from the laptop.. or you folks. ;)

[Mal]

Sorry, each line is a different command, should have made that more clear. Reboot the computer (you'll probably have to just hold down the power button) and do it that way. I don't think you'll have messed anything up by doing it the way you did, but it won't work that way.

jW

[jnette]

OK.. I've tried all the above suggestions.. exactly as given. Made sure I had everythig "just so".

And each time, I continue to get the long page of script with the ending

"Darwin Kernel Version blah blah blah ...release _PPC
Panic:We are hanging here..."

I am able to simply reboot in single user but it still jsut reboots with the log in request.
Does me no good, as I no longer have an ID to log in WITH.

arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh !!!!

*WAH*

[jnette]

Well, woohoooooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!!!!!! :D:D:D

I'm up and running !!!

Don't know what I did right, but after much trial and error, and PERSISTENCE in following the above given instructions, something just clicked, and that marvelous WELCOME screen and music came on !!! I've never been so happy in my LIFE !!! ;)

Woooooooot !!!

So I put in a new name and password, and I'm all set to go now. All is well with my little world. LOL !

I want to thank you for your kindness in helping me out here... couldn't have done this withut your assistance. THANK YOU AGAIN !!! :)

[ladytex]

easier solution:

boot into single user mode just like aussie geek instructed with "apple + s" while turning on your mac.

then after after typing "/sbin/mount -uw /"

type "passwd"

then type what you want for your root password...

then type reboot


log into your account... go to the accounts preference pane and click the lock at the bottom left...this time when prompted for username/password use:

User: root
password: (one you just created)

tada!

now upgrade your account to admin....

logout and back in and you're good as gold.

Thank you! ;) This was extremely helpful to restore my account privileges!

[Donadio.j]

Anybody know how to do this?

You may have already figured this out, but in case not, follow the last steps and go to System Preferences>Accounts and then unlock the account (there is a lock symbol on the bottom left corner of the page) with the username root and the password you alloted to it) Then appoint your account as the administrator.

[chazzer]

I can't even get it to switch to single user or start from leopard disc. Can't update, nothing works to get rid of standard user. It only comes on to standard user and guest. Any help is welcome!

Sealevel and others,

Has anyone managed to find a way to break in ?

I have tried removing RAM and even that does not work.

Chazzer

[alexprice]

Sealevel and others,

Has anyone managed to find a way to break in ?

I have tried removing RAM and even that does not work.

Chazzer

Remove one RAM DIMM, reset the PRAM. Turn off the machine. Put the RAM back in and try single user mode again.

[fourcolourblack]

easier solution:

boot into single user mode just like aussie geek instructed with "apple + s" while turning on your mac.

then after after typing "/sbin/mount -uw /"

type "passwd"

then type what you want for your root password...

then type reboot


log into your account... go to the accounts preference pane and click the lock at the bottom left...this time when prompted for username/password use:

User: root
password: (one you just created)

tada!

now upgrade your account to admin....

logout and back in and you're good as gold.


i'm quite late in on this thread but i'd just like to say the above instructions worked a charm. i bought one of the new iMac in the first week and its came with OSX 10.4 and a Leopard upgrade disc. funny enough i've never had the permission issue until a week or so ago when i noticed i couldn't change the energy settings.

weird.

anyway apple were no help at all. although my local genius bar (50 miles away) told me over the phone this is a common problem and they'd fix it in 5 minutes for free but i'd have to take it there obviously.

this thread did it for me.

[macbooker15]

easier solution:

boot into single user mode just like aussie geek instructed with "apple + s" while turning on your mac.

then after after typing "/sbin/mount -uw /"

type "passwd"

then type what you want for your root password...

then type reboot


log into your account... go to the accounts preference pane and click the lock at the bottom left...this time when prompted for username/password use:

User: root
password: (one you just created)

tada!

now upgrade your account to admin....

logout and back in and you're good as gold.

yeah that didn't work it just said something about a socket

yes i know im bumping a year old topi, but i need some help

[Donadio.j]

Hmmm...where does it go wrong exactly?

[fourcolourblack]

yeah let us know where? is this in safe mode? it drove me so crazy i'm willing to help

[macbooker15]

nope, its ok....
I i just forgot to put a back slash

but now i lost my settings and i cant get access to one of the keychains in Keychain access.