Login Loop for Usual User Account

[xovintagecharm]

Hello --

I'm new to the forum, but I've been a Mac user for years. This is the first time I've ever had an issue with my iMac in the four years that I have had it. I'm not exactly sure what set it off, but a couple of days ago, my iTunes was acting funny and freezing along with not recognizing my iPhone when I plugged it in.

After restarting the iMac a couple of times, my computer started showing a login screen, when it was set to automatically login to my usual account. After typing in the correct password, the boot would continue until I could see my desktop, but after a couple of seconds, would cycle back to the login screen.

After messing around with my root directory and deleting some plist files and Launch files, I tried re-installing OSX to no avail. I then created a new root account, which has lead me to have access to all of my files and make my iMac usable, but I still cannot login to my usual account.

I would love if there was something I could do without having to backup my files and start from scratch. I'd prefer to save my preferences and have access to my account again!

Please please please someone help me!

- A very desperate grad student.

 

[piccocuile]

Solution

Hello --

I'm new to the forum, but I've been a Mac user for years. This is the first time I've ever had an issue with my iMac in the four years that I have had it. I'm not exactly sure what set it off, but a couple of days ago, my iTunes was acting funny and freezing along with not recognizing my iPhone when I plugged it in.

After restarting the iMac a couple of times, my computer started showing a login screen, when it was set to automatically login to my usual account. After typing in the correct password, the boot would continue until I could see my desktop, but after a couple of seconds, would cycle back to the login screen.

After messing around with my root directory and deleting some plist files and Launch files, I tried re-installing OSX to no avail. I then created a new root account, which has lead me to have access to all of my files and make my iMac usable, but I still cannot login to my usual account.

I would love if there was something I could do without having to backup my files and start from scratch. I'd prefer to save my preferences and have access to my account again!

Please please please someone help me!

- A very desperate grad student.

Hello friend, I got the same problem with my Mac OSX system after I upgrade to the 'Lion'. I found a solution that worked for me, here is the step of that:

• Reboot your mac, hold down Command R just as it chimes (or just as it starts up if you have volume off)
• Select "Terminal" from the Utilities menu
• Type resetpassword and hit Return
• Select root and enter a root password
• Go to Apple Menu > Restart
• Log in as root using the password you just created
• Go in System Preferences > Users & Groups
• Create a new Administrator account using the same exact short name and password as your old user account (same capitalization of short name is important)
• When you accept it will say "The Users folder already contains a folder with the same name as the home folder for this account"
• Select "Use Existing Folder" (and wait for a while if you have a lot of files
• Log out or reboot and you should see your old user there, try logging in

Hope this will work for you! GOOD LUCK~

 

[xovintagecharm]

Hello friend, I got the same problem with my Mac OSX system after I upgrade to the 'Lion'. I found a solution that worked for me, here is the step of that:

• Reboot your mac, hold down Command R just as it chimes (or just as it starts up if you have volume off)
• Select "Terminal" from the Utilities menu
• Type resetpassword and hit Return
• Select root and enter a root password
• Go to Apple Menu > Restart
• Log in as root using the password you just created
• Go in System Preferences > Users & Groups
• Create a new Administrator account using the same exact short name and password as your old user account (same capitalization of short name is important)
• When you accept it will say "The Users folder already contains a folder with the same name as the home folder for this account"
• Select "Use Existing Folder" (and wait for a while if you have a lot of files
• Log out or reboot and you should see your old user there, try logging in

Hope this will work for you! GOOD LUCK~

Thanks for your reply!!

I tried exactly what you said, however, I am running OSX Snow Leopard, not Lion. When I got to the stage of creating a new Admin account with the same file and user names, it simply wouldn't let me saying that another user was already existed with those names, it wouldn't even give me the option to share the folder. Any other ideas?

 

[xovintagecharm]

There has got to be someone out there that can help me!