Help!!! Changed Account Name!

[macuser1232]

I need help!!! I was trying to change my Mac's account name so it would just have my first name. First I went to System Preferences. Then I went to Users and Groups. Then Login Options. Then i clicked join and open directory utility. After that, I changed the NFSHomeDirectory name from /Users/adamLASTNAME to /Users/adam and then reauthenticated it. Now I logged of my Mac and all my stuff is gone! Everything! The only thing left is my applications but most of them won't open up!! Please Help!!!

 

[Dangerous Theory]

I suppose this is the part where your answer to "Do you have any time machine backups?" is no?

 

[macuser1232]

I suppose this is the part where your answer to "Do you have any time machine backups?" is no?

Correct. Should I try repairing Disk Permissions?

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Also my Mail application won't start up

 

[calderone]

Correct. Should I try repairing Disk Permissions?

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Also my Mail application won't start up

Repairing permissions won't help you.

The problem is that you changed the user record to look at /Users/adam but you didn't change the actual path to your home directory.

The simplest way to fix this AND get the intended result.

• Boot into Recovery Mode (Command and R keys while booting)
• Select Utilities > Terminal
• Type the following into Terminal, very carefully:

rm -R /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Users/adam

mv /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Users/adamLASTNAME /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Users/adam

resetpassword

Choose the Restore Home Directory Permissions and ACLs option. Follow the prompts.

 

[macuser1232]

what about this? http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/renamehomerecovery.html

 

[calderone]

what about this? http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/renamehomerecovery.html

It assumes the opposite of what you have done. That you have renamed the home folder. You have changed the reference in the user record, but not the actual name of the folder.

Looks pretty dated as well.

 

[macuser1232]

Well I just had another person advise that I go to that website. Which should I do??? I mean right now I in my Users folder I have two home folders. My old one, and the new one.

 

[calderone]

Well I just had another person advise that I go to that website. Which should I do??? I mean right now I in my Users folder I have two home folders. My old one, and the new one.

I suggest you do what I wrote above. It will be cleaner and there will be no side effects.

 

[macuser1232]

So do I replace the Macintosh HD Library folder with the Macintosh HD/Users/adam/Library?

 

[calderone]

So do I replace the Macintosh HD Library folder with the Macintosh HD/Users/adam/Library?

No. Stop reading that other article immediately.

Start doing what I suggested above.

 

[macuser1232]

No. Stop reading that other article immediately.

Start doing what I suggested above.

what do I do after I enter in resetpassword in the terminal? I haven't started doing it yet cause I have to write the code down first.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Please do as calderone suggested, he actually knows what he is talking about.

me, I just stopped to look helpful, while actually going to the permissions repair center at sacred hart hospital homes.

 

[macuser1232]

No. Stop reading that other article immediately.

Start doing what I suggested above.

Nevermind about what I said about the Macintosh HD. The real problem is that I can't get access the Library folder that is in my old User account(adamLASTNAME). I can only view the Library folder in the new account(adam)

 

[calderone]

what do I do after I enter in resetpassword in the terminal? I haven't started doing it yet cause I have to write the code down first.

It will actually just pop up a new window.

Select that window, choose your new username (adam) and click the Reset button on the bottom.

 

[macuser1232]

Repairing permissions won't help you.

The problem is that you changed the user record to look at /Users/adam but you didn't change the actual path to your home directory.

The simplest way to fix this AND get the intended result.

• Boot into Recovery Mode (Command and R keys while booting)
• Select Utilities > Terminal
• Type the following into Terminal, very carefully:

rm -R /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Users/adam

mv /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Users/adamLASTNAME /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Users/adam

resetpassword

Choose the Restore Home Directory Permissions and ACLs option. Follow the prompts.

Ok. I chose Restore Home Directory Permissions and ACLs. It has a button that says done in the bottom right corner but it is grayed out. Should I go to the apple logo and restart?

 

[macuser1232]

It worked!!!! Thank you so much!!! I don't know how to thank you! I feel like I need to pay you!! Once again MacRumors and it's awesome people help me in a life-threatening situation!!

 

[calderone]

It worked!!!! Thank you so much!!! I don't know how to thank you! I feel like I need to pay you!! Once again MacRumors and it's awesome people help me in a life-threatening situation!!

You're very welcome!

 

[macuser1232]

You're very welcome!

So no side affects? Also, for future references, what are the differences between Record name and NFSHomeDirectory?

 

[calderone]

So no side affects? Also, for future references, what are the differences between Record name and NFSHomeDirectory?

There should be no side effects. What you have now is:
A properly configured user (check the values in System Preferences) and
a home directory with the proper permissions and path.

Account name (Record name) is the shortname of your user, the human read-able version of your user record.

NFSHomeDirectory stores the location of your home directory.

What you did was change the Record Name and NFSHomeDirectory, but you did not change the location of the home directory itself. As such, you ended up with a brand new home directory.

There isn't really a super clean way to handle this task, unfortunately it does take knowledge of the command line. While you could handle this within say Finder, the permissions structure of the home directory is a bit more complex and requires additional power and/or tools (Reset Password Utility).

 

[macuser1232]

There should be no side effects. What you have now is:
A properly configured user (check the values in System Preferences) and
a home directory with the proper permissions and path.

How do I do this?

Account name (Record name) is the shortname of your user, the human read-able version of your user record.

NFSHomeDirectory stores the location of your home directory.

What you did was change the Record Name and NFSHomeDirectory, but you did not change the location of the home directory itself. As such, you ended up with a brand new home directory.

There isn't really a super clean way to handle this task, unfortunately it does take knowledge of the command line. While you could handle this within say Finder, the permissions structure of the home directory is a bit more complex and requires additional power and/or tools (Reset Password Utility).

So what if I change only one of those names. Like what if I just change the NFSHomeDirectory?

 

[calderone]

How do I do this?

So what if I change only one of those names. Like what if I just change the NFSHomeDirectory?

If you were to just change NFSHomeDirectory you would also need to change the name of the underlying folder on the drive.

You *could* just change the Record Name, permissions are actually determined by the User ID (not the shortname), so you could login with the new shortname and your home folder would be unchanged.

 

[macuser1232]

If you were to just change NFSHomeDirectory you would also need to change the name of the underlying folder on the drive.

You *could* just change the Record Name, permissions are actually determined by the User ID (not the shortname), so you could login with the new shortname and your home folder would be unchanged.

Hm. I don't think I can do that now. What my objective was, was to make finder and terminal and activity monitor to say adam. But, Finder to say adamLASTNAME. I don't know it's not much of a problem. It's probably best to have the NFSHomeDirectory name and the Record name to be both your first name. Am I correct?

 

[calderone]

Hm. I don't think I can do that now. What my objective was, was to make finder and terminal and activity monitor to say adam. But, Finder to say adamLASTNAME. I don't know it's not much of a problem. It's probably best to have the NFSHomeDirectory name and the Record name to be both your first name. Am I correct?

It won't hurt and I personally prefer it that way.

 

[macuser1232]

It won't hurt and I personally prefer it that way.

Hey. I have noticed my fans running a lot more than they used to. Also my IP to my computer when I'm connected to my wifi changed. Any thoughts?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Hey. I have noticed my fans running a lot more than they used to. Any thoughts?

Open Activity Monitor and select All Processes and then sort by CPU to show you the process(es) slowing down your Mac or speeding up your fan(s) or causing more heat.

Using Activity Monitor to show you CPU and RAM usage​