LOG OUT BIG MISTAKE

[Patth9]

Mac Mini in TROUBLE!

Purchased: Apr-05-13 Mac Mini Desktop MC2707LL/A (mid-2010) -VERY GOOD CONDITION 111040053181


Today we added a password, for the first time. This was a used Mac Mini when we purchased it; only one person has been using it (husband). The same user name was kept and there was NO password.

By mistake, the Mac Mini was closed down using the option Log Out Mac... rather than Shut Down. Now we cannot get into the Mac Mini.

When the Mac is turned on, it wants a user name and password, the monitor is way different in appearance. The username remained the same and password is the same, (both are the same words).

Is there anyone out there in MacRumors Land who can help me figure out how to fix this mess?

Patt

 

[teksurv]

Try this: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3468005?start=0 <-- not accounting for backup of existing data just in case, please beware.

 

[adam9c1]

There is easier way.

Power down the device, power up and at chime hold Command R keys to boot to OS X recovery partition.
Once in there go to Applications and open Terminal. Type resetpassword and hit enter.
You will be prompted to enter new password for the account.

This will work if you do not have firmware password set.

Most likely what has happened is you had automatic login enabled for the account.

 

[DeltaMac]

(Just trying to find out if I understand your post.)
Did someone change the account name, such as using your husband's name for the account name, and then use the same name as the password?
Or, was the old account name used, just adding THAT old name as the password?

Do you recall HOW you added the password? Did you use the Users & Groups pane to do that? OR some other method?

 

[Patth9]

Try this: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3468005?start=0 <-- not accounting for backup of existing data just in case, please beware.

This is interesting,
Here's one method to reset the password without the install disc:

1. boot computer and hold the "apple" key and the "s" key.

2. wait for terminal show

3. release keys

4. type without the quotes: "/sbin/mount -uaw"

5. press enter

6. type without the quotes: "rm /var/db/.applesetupdone

7. press enter

8. type without the quotes: "reboot"

9. press enter

Thanks
teksurv
I found a similar choice before I offered my troubles to Macrumers today, but the Key suggested was "r", which didn't work.

I will certainly try this next.
[doublepost=1494452881][/doublepost]

There is easier way.

Power down the device, power up and at chime hold Command R keys to boot to OS X recovery partition.
Once in there go to Applications and open Terminal. Type resetpassword and hit enter.
You will be prompted to enter new password for the account.

This will work if you do not have firmware password set.

Most likely what has happened is you had automatic login enabled for the account.

Thanks
adam9c1

Opps, Tried this option, poised my Apple Key and R key, as soon as I saw the gray screen, several times, didn't work.

"Press the Command and R keys at the same time when the grey screen appears and hold them until you see the Apple logo. A small loading bar will appear under the logo. Sit tight as your system boots into Recovery Mode. Click the Utilities tab in the top menu bar, select Terminal, type resetpassword and press Enter.Feb 27, 2015"

Just so you know I really did try.
[doublepost=1494453945][/doublepost]

(Just trying to find out if I understand your post.)
Did someone change the account name, such as using your husband's name for the account name, and then use the same name as the password?
Or, was the old account name used, just adding THAT old name as the password?

Do you recall HOW you added the password? Did you use the Users & Groups pane to do that? OR some other method?

Thanks,
DeltaMac

No, DeltMac, I wish this WAS the problem. A tiny bit of history.

Recently we upgraded the "MC2707LL/A (mid-2010)" to SSD HD. When the Mm was turned on, an appeal would appear on the screen asking for a password. If left alone (long time) it would finally produce the desktop, as though it had given up. Of course the was little death spinning ball was present. It was very annoying. I was asked to give the Mm a password to make it faster. Up until the the SSD swap, it was slow waking up, but not THAT slow. Being the dutiful wife that I am, I added a password using the same word as the user name. The next time the Mm was asked to preform, ... the rest is as previously stated.

I contacted the person who sold us the MC2707LL/A on ebay asking if perhaps there had been two people using the Mc and thus there was a hidden "password". Believe it or not, he replied and said there were NO passwords.

Being such a small task, no account names were use in this event.

Thanks for trying.

Patt

 

[Patth9]

Just though of something else. The Mm is using Snow Leopard. Does this make a difference???

 

[DeltaMac]

Just though of something else. The Mm is using Snow Leopard. Does this make a difference???

Well, yes, There's one large difference...
Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6.8) does not have a recovery partition. That started with OS X 10.7 (Lion)
So, the Command-r can't do anything with Snow Leopard.
The choice that you have is to boot to another system (such as the original DVD that came with your mini)
Use the Reset Password command under the Utilities menu to reset the password.
Or, follow the steps to reset the account in single-user mode.
This page gives you several different choices.

Of course, if you simply see a blank password window, with a padlock at one end, then you have other problems, and you would need to take to a 'genius' for best help.

 

[Patth9]

Well, yes, There's one large difference...
Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6.8) does not have a recovery partition. That started with OS X 10.7 (Lion)
So, the Command-r can't do anything with Snow Leopard.
The choice that you have is to boot to another system (such as the original DVD that came with your mini)
Use the Reset Password command under the Utilities menu to reset the password.
Or, follow the steps to reset the account in single-user mode.
This page gives you several different choices.

Of course, if you simply see a blank password window, with a padlock at one end, then you have other problems, and you would need to talk to a 'genius' for best help.

Thanks
DeltaMac
A genius or a genie in a bottle. It didn't hit me until someone on the Apple site noted several OSs that would be fixed by following certain instructions.

I do have the DVD that came with the Mm and will give it a try ASAP. Will reply back, hopefully, with big smile on my face.
Patt

 

[Patth9]

Well, I have a big smile on my face.

What wasn't explained on the Apple instructions is that when one inserts the DVD for Snow Leopard one must hold down a key... I figured which key after reading more information on other sights which suggested the option key.

Long shaky story short, hubby's Mac mini is working, even better, I managed to set it up like my mini, no more greeting message of "Password Needed" just a wide open monitor ready to go to work.

Again, I hope this information, along with the other thousands of same topics, will help someone else along the way.

Thanks to the great helpers of MacRumors!

 

[teksurv]

I'm glad it worked out well.