Cannot log into Mac os X please help.

Ok, it was working, auto login was set. The computer got a kernel panic and now when it boots up the login screen says Mac OS X with a blue apple, has 2 fields that are blank, Name and Password. It does not give a computer name on the screen.

When I boot off of a 10.1 cd or a 10.2 cd and try to reset the password it says there are no users to select from.

Is there a possibility that this computer has os 10.0 on it? If so would that account for no computer name being displayed on the login screen or is that a symptoms that the system and users are totally screwed up?

Is there a bootable cd that will let me see the files that are on the HD? Maybe even copy the files to an external hd or something? If I were to reinstall with the users being screwed up is there a chance the data might get lost or are the files safe? Sorry for all the questions, if you can answer any or all that would be helpful.

Thanks.

Also, if I boot off of the 10.2 cd, I have the option to archive and install and even preserve user and network settings. Does that mean for sure that I have os 10.2 on here already? Or would I even be given an archive and install option if it was 10.1 or 10.0? Also if I did an archive and install preserving user settings and the users are messed up, would the files in the home folders be protected? I would imagine that an OS install would not delete them but I thought I would check and make sure.

 

Hmm, maybe. so if I renamed my home folder I would not be able to log in anymore? I thought if that happened your account would still be there but when you log in everything would be blank. I can't even log in at all with this computer.

 

Oops, did not mean to post again.

 

No one knows? Basically the database that keeps track of users on the mac is hosed. Is there a bootable cd that will allow you to see all the files that are still on the hd? Possibly even copy those to an external hd?