Whats going on here?

[jbrown]

I did a fresh install of OS X - but now when I try to use Software Update, Start Disk, Accounts, etc. it gives me a dialogue box asking for an Administrator Name, and password.I never got asked that before

And when I type it in, it wont work saying it is incorrect! I entered the name and password I use on my main login screen when it starts up ( which works fine ). Is this the same as the Administrator name and password?? I have never set up an Administrator name and password seperately

Any ideas

 

[r.j.s]

What's it say for your account type in System Preferences > Accounts?

 

[jbrown]

I tried that to gain access to my accounts - but same thing happened, it asked me for an Admin name & pw ,

 

[r.j.s]

I tried that to gain access to my accounts - but same thing happened, it asked me for an Admin name & pw ,

What does it say under your account name? You don't have to change anything, yet.

 

[jbrown]

Says the correct name

 

[r.j.s]

Says the correct name

Does it say Standard or Admin?

 

[jbrown]

It says standard - but if I click on the little padlock t open it so I can make changes, it again asks me for name and pw - which are rejected

 

[r.j.s]

It says standard - but if I click on the little padlock t open it so I can make changes, it again asks me for name and pw - which are rejected

You are not an admin, stop trying.

Are there any other accounts? Any that say Admin under them?

 

[killerrobot]

You need to boot off the Install disk, run disk utility and repair permissions.

If that doesn't fix it, you need to boot of the Install Disk and login as the root admin then change your user account back to an admin account.

EDIT: For better security the main account you use all the time should be standard, and use the admin account when installing/updating software only.

 

[jbrown]

no - I even tried resetting th pw with the start up disc, with no luck.

Thanks for the help btw

 

[r.j.s]

Follow these instructions: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1278

 

[killerrobot]

no - I even tried resetting th pw with the start up disc, with no luck.

Thanks for the help btw

You can't change the pw unless you log in as the root user (not the same as your regular admin account)
If you can't change it or create a new admin with the root admin login then you have bigger software issues that require a reinstall or the genius bar.

 

[jbrown]

Thanks for the help - got it working fine

 

[matthewscott661]

EDIT: For better security the main account you use all the time should be standard, and use the admin account when installing/updating software only.

Really? That seems like it would be a lot of trouble for some people.

 

[killerrobot]

Really? That seems like it would be a lot of trouble for some people.

Here are two of a bazillion articles written about it. It's a simple step to take, for the amount of security it can provide.

http://www.macworld.com/article/51426/2006/06/protectmac.html

http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=482338

 

[matthewscott661]

Here are two of a bazillion articles written about it. It's a simple step to take, for the amount of security it can provide.

http://www.macworld.com/article/51426/2006/06/protectmac.html

http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=482338

I'm not saying it's not worth it, I never even thought about it, but I have to enter my password enough as it is, and also having to type my user name every time might get annoying.

It's just one of those things that you see that initially seems like it would be a hassle, but after you find out more about it, you see that it is worth the small annoyance.