My Terminal is playing up, any experts?

[Brucy666]

Ok, so heres the problem, when i start up Terminal and open a new window, the initial writing is..

Last login: Tue Nov 25 21:37:14 on ttys000
Unknown-**-**-**-**-**-**:~ Username$
* = random number or letter

After asking around a bit i found out that it should not say this, instead it should be
Welcome/Username$ (or something along that line)

This disables me from using certain commands such as
cd /Users/Username/Desktop/'filename'

Can anyone help me in my hour of need

Thankyou

Brucy

 

[kainjow]

Never seen it before, but I'd suggest a reboot first to see if the problem is persistent.

 

[Brucy666]

Yea i tried that... didn't work

although i found the same pattern of numbers in file sharing when i turn it on... so i turned it off and the problem is still there

 

[JG271]

Possibly try a verify disk permissions under disk utility. Other than that, i can't think what to suggest, seems pretty odd! You're not booting up in single user mode or anything like that?

 

[ergdegdeg]

You can't cd to a file but only to a folder.
Try changing your computer name under System Preferences --> Sharing --> Computer Name and Edit...

 

[Brucy666]

already done that as well

and i ment 'foldername' not file

 

[Brucy666]

what is a single boot mode?

 

[johto]

what is a single boot mode?

This is because your "hostname" is currently that random number and letter" combinatio. This is your ethernet MAC address i believe.

Go to terminal and type command "hostname", does it print the same ?

Chec you System preferences -> Sharing -> computer name Does it show th same name?

It could be that your computer is getting its name dynamic when it gets it's IP with DHCP. You could try edit the /etc/hostconfig file(you need admin permissions) and add a last line telling your static computer name.

Here is example of my /etc/hostconfig. I added that last line:

#################
# This file is going away

AFPSERVER=-NO-
AUTHSERVER=-NO-
AUTOMOUNT=-YES-
NFSLOCKS=-AUTOMATIC-
NISDOMAIN=-NO-
TIMESYNC=-YES-
QTSSERVER=-NO-
WEBSERVER=-NO-
SMBSERVER=-NO-
SNMPSERVER=-NO-
HOSTNAME="imac"

###############
This gives my mac a static hostname "imac" and it shows nicely on the therminal

 

[Brucy666]

ok, i think that is on the right track, but when i type /etc/hostconfig into terminal, it says

'-bash: /etc/hostconfig: Permission denied'

but i am admin on my computer...

how do u check the admin status?

 

[Neil321]

but i am admin on my computer...

how do u check the admin status?

System prefs > Accounts ?

 

[John Jacob]

ok, i think that is on the right track, but when i type /etc/hostconfig into terminal, it says

'-bash: /etc/hostconfig: Permission denied'

but i am admin on my computer...

how do u check the admin status?

It is not an executable file. To see the contents of the file, type cat /etc/hostconfig. To edit it, type sudo vi /etc/hostconfig and replace vi with your editor of choice.