Importing other user account settings

danielsen · Nov 22, 2009, 01:58 PM

So, I just obtained a Macbook from Craigslist. I spent most of yesterday setting it up, changing setting, installing applications, etc... What I totally failed to realize is that I don't have the password for the account! So, I took to Google. I discovered a way to create a new Admin account on boot via the terminal, which I did. So now I have my own account, with my own password.
Here's my question: Is it possible to import all the settings from the first account I was working under, into my new account I just created? I'd really hate to do all that work again...
Thank you in advance!

AppleNewton · Nov 22, 2009, 02:50 PM

to be honest if i just bought a new system off ebay or craiglist id wipe the system clean and reinstall the OS and do all what you need from there.

i dont know of a way off the top of my head to transfer account settings over

Makosuke · Nov 22, 2009, 05:17 PM

Now that you have an administrative password to use, you could just reset the password on the account you'd set up before and switch back to that. You'll need to wipe its keychain and start fresh, though, since the password on that can't be reset.

Instructions:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274

I don't think this will work if they're using Filevault, but that's probably not the case.

All that said, I agree that I'd do a complete wipe and fresh OS install as soon as I got any used computer.

Nov 22, 2009, 01:58 PM	#1
danielsen macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2009	Importing other user account settings So, I just obtained a Macbook from Craigslist. I spent most of yesterday setting it up, changing setting, installing applications, etc... What I totally failed to realize is that I don't have the password for the account! So, I took to Google. I discovered a way to create a new Admin account on boot via the terminal, which I did. So now I have my own account, with my own password. Here's my question: Is it possible to import all the settings from the first account I was working under, into my new account I just created? I'd really hate to do all that work again... Thank you in advance!

Nov 22, 2009, 02:50 PM	#2
AppleNewton macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 1 Finite Place	to be honest if i just bought a new system off ebay or craiglist id wipe the system clean and reinstall the OS and do all what you need from there. i dont know of a way off the top of my head to transfer account settings over __________________ MacBook Pro 17" 2.66 \| 27" iMac i7 \| iPod Touch \| 2TB Time Capsule \| 10TB Octometa FutureDrives

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Nov 22, 2009, 05:17 PM	#3
Makosuke macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: The Cool Part of CA, USA	Now that you have an administrative password to use, you could just reset the password on the account you'd set up before and switch back to that. You'll need to wipe its keychain and start fresh, though, since the password on that can't be reset. Instructions: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274 I don't think this will work if they're using Filevault, but that's probably not the case. All that said, I agree that I'd do a complete wipe and fresh OS install as soon as I got any used computer.