iMac will not all to access system prefrences

[CpU MasteR]

I bought a iMac as is with no information. I reset the root password, but I am unable to access the system folder contents, application folder contents and system prefrences. I am using Mac OS X 10.2.

Help, I havent touched a Mac in 6 years and man how it has evolved... :p

[Raven]

If you can login to the account and to the Finder GUI, check if you can go in System Preferences and check if the account has admin rights.
Also, do a Get Info for the System folder and take a look at who is the owner of those Files. The owner should be System. Also, if you go to Disk Utility in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder you can run the Repair permissions which will reset all permissions to what they should normally be.

A little note since its been a while since you've worked on Macs... The System folder is not as it was in classic systems a place where you want to go play at all... Its the basci system and should only be changed with extreme caution. Alot of the items you used to modify are now either within the /Library folder or within the Library folder that resides in your user account.

If you can give more details as to the issue or what you wish to do there are alot of people here who can help out ! Welcome back to the Mac !

[CpU MasteR]

If you can login to the account and to the Finder GUI, check if you can go in System Preferences and check if the account has admin rights.
The System Prefrences option is there, but I cannot open it. Meaning, I select it but nothing pops up.

Also, do a Get Info for the System folder and take a look at who is the owner of those Files. The owner should be System.

All checked, and all fine.


Also, if you go to Disk Utility in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder you can run the Repair permissions which will reset all permissions to what they should normally be.

There is no Utilities in the Applications folder. :/

On another note, the System Folder & the Applications folder are empty. Am I missing something here?

BTW, I have no recovery discs so if you guys have any utililtes I can have that would be great. Thanks for the feedback. :)

[giskard22]

It's not a good idea to be using a system without at least having an OS installer disk for troubleshooting. My recommendation would be to buy the new Mac OS X 10.4 and just wipe the machine clean.

You won't have any of the bundled applications that came with the machine originally, but most of those would be out of date anyway. If you also purchase iLife 05, you'll get latest versions of iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and Garage Band.

I think it'll be about $200 for both boxes.

[Raven]

in any case you will need to re-install the system as you seem to be missing alot of very usefull if not vital parts of the OS... So minimally re-install 10.2.

[voldenuit]

I completely second Giskard, your system seems to be partially deleted by the previous owner.

If you were impressed by Jaguar, you'll be amazed by Tiger, just wipe the disk and make a clean install.