Unable To Login.

[pops1368]

I have earlier today logged into my early 2011 MBP and running Yosemite without any issues. However, on booting up the MBP showed the login screen into which I entered my usual password, it then shows a progress bar below my login name and then shows a dialogue box stating:

You are unable to log in to the use account "----------------" at this time.
Logging in to the account failed because an error occurred.

I have restarted it and used CMD R to restore from backup, but none are displayed. I have reset my login password, but to no avail.

Please could someone, anyone help me with the above. I would rather not reinstall OS X as I will loose everything.

 

[DeltaMac]

I have earlier today logged into my early 2011 MBP and running Yosemite without any issues. However, on booting up the MBP showed the login screen into which I entered my usual password, it then shows a progress bar below my login name and then shows a dialogue box stating:

You are unable to log in to the use account "----------------" at this time.
Logging in to the account failed because an error occurred.

I have restarted it and used CMD R to restore from backup, but none are displayed. I have reset my login password, but to no avail.

Please could someone, anyone help me with the above. I would rather not reinstall OS X as I will loose everything.
...

Were you making a change to any part of the system, such as renaming your home holder? And a restart was required, then failed?
This thread may help you with an answer that will help you.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4328284

BTW, simply reinstalling your system will NOT force you to lose anything. But, that's not needed until you have tried a couple of the tricks in the above thread.

 

[pops1368]

Deltamac, thanks for the reply. The only thing I did when it worked successfully was to encrypt my secondary hard drive on which everything is saved to i.e. Photos, documents etc. When I added the secondary hard drive I changed the Home to be on the secondary drive and never had a problem.

I've tried running it in Safe Mode but when I login with my password, I get the same error message.

If I were to reinstall my system is it simply:

Start
Hold down CMD + R
Select Reinstall OS X



This way I won't

 

[DeltaMac]

Deltamac, thanks for the reply. The only thing I did when it worked successfully was to encrypt my secondary hard drive on which everything is saved to i.e. Photos, documents etc. When I added the secondary hard drive I changed the Home to be on the secondary drive and never had a problem.

I've tried running it in Safe Mode but when I login with my password, I get the same error message.

If I were to reinstall my system is it simply:

Start
Hold down CMD + R
Select Reinstall OS X
...

So, the changes that you made are not just prior to your problem?

Can you get it to boot up when you try removing the .AppleSetupDone, and create a new user account on the next boot? That's one of the tips in that thread that I posted for you, and it will work.
Of course, that's assuming that your system install is not totally borked. Then, you would still get to reinstall. The Recovery system will get that done for you, with very little pain (except for the time involved, but I think you are ready for that )

And you DO have the right idea, you're just making a wrong assumption.
If you boot to the Command+R, and choose reinstall OS X, that reinstall does not wipe your hard drive, nor does it cause you to lose anything - it just reinstalls your system - and does not affect your own files or other apps, unless you CHOOSE to erase your hard drive first - but there's no need to do that yet!
If the other tips fail to help, then you need the reinstall.... There's not much else you can do then.

 

[pops1368]

Deltamac, you are a gentleman and a scholar. The link you provided worked to a tee. Managed to set up a new administrator and I was able to decrypt my secondary drive.

Once again thanks you.