Missing user. MPB 10.5.6

Pgmale · 03-31-2009, 07:53 PM

So two days ago, I went to boot my MBP up, and see that i get to a login screen that wants me to fill in my name and password. So i punch in my user name and it's password, and no dice, i try 3 more times and hit the 'back' button to see that the only account i can log into is "Other".

I only had the one account, seeing as this was a personal laptop that I use at home and school.. So I load up single user mode and get it to essentially create a new admin (as if i was resetting the laptop from scratch...) just to log in to see if i can find my old user in my sys. pref.

Anyways, I login (thank god) and open up my home folder and see my old user "paul" still sitting there.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to recreate user shotname "paul".. I command it to do so in sys. pref. under accounts, and it asks if I want to reuse the old home folder.. I tell it yes, and it seems to think it completes the action without the new user popping up under my new account.

I'm wondering if there's any command I can use in single user mode/terminal/whatever to try and recreate user shortname "paul" OR delete it. I'm down to 17gb's of free disk space, and if I can't reclaim any of my old information, i'd just as soon start from scratch. I've tried commands to "unhide" the login, but none of that seems to help any.. seeing as i don't recall imputing any command to hide it in the first place.

It's a 17" MBP running OSX 10.5.6... if you need any more help, please ask. I'm desperate for any solution to this problem.

hayne · 04-01-2009, 02:49 AM

I'd recommend getting more info about the situation before changing anything.

E.g. look at the output from the command:
dscl . -readall /Users

(and read 'man dscl')

And look at what folders exist under /Users and what their ownership and permissions are - e.g with the command:
ls -l /Users

Pgmale · 04-06-2009, 12:06 AM

So i ran the first command, and couldn't find anything on my old user with that... but when i typed the second command, it still has me listed on there as staff (another name for admin i'm guessing?)

i'm not sure where the disconnect is.. but i can't seem to get it to recreate my old user for the life of me.... any ideas?

03-31-2009, 07:53 PM	#1
Pgmale Prospect Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2	Missing user. MPB 10.5.6 So two days ago, I went to boot my MBP up, and see that i get to a login screen that wants me to fill in my name and password. So i punch in my user name and it's password, and no dice, i try 3 more times and hit the 'back' button to see that the only account i can log into is "Other". I only had the one account, seeing as this was a personal laptop that I use at home and school.. So I load up single user mode and get it to essentially create a new admin (as if i was resetting the laptop from scratch...) just to log in to see if i can find my old user in my sys. pref. Anyways, I login (thank god) and open up my home folder and see my old user "paul" still sitting there. Unfortunately, I can't seem to recreate user shotname "paul".. I command it to do so in sys. pref. under accounts, and it asks if I want to reuse the old home folder.. I tell it yes, and it seems to think it completes the action without the new user popping up under my new account. I'm wondering if there's any command I can use in single user mode/terminal/whatever to try and recreate user shortname "paul" OR delete it. I'm down to 17gb's of free disk space, and if I can't reclaim any of my old information, i'd just as soon start from scratch. I've tried commands to "unhide" the login, but none of that seems to help any.. seeing as i don't recall imputing any command to hide it in the first place. It's a 17" MBP running OSX 10.5.6... if you need any more help, please ask. I'm desperate for any solution to this problem.

04-01-2009, 02:49 AM	#2
hayne Site Admin Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 31,940	I'd recommend getting more info about the situation before changing anything. E.g. look at the output from the command: dscl . -readall /Users (and read 'man dscl') And look at what folders exist under /Users and what their ownership and permissions are - e.g with the command: ls -l /Users __________________ hayne.net/macosx.html

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04-06-2009, 12:06 AM	#3
Pgmale Prospect Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2	So i ran the first command, and couldn't find anything on my old user with that... but when i typed the second command, it still has me listed on there as staff (another name for admin i'm guessing?) i'm not sure where the disconnect is.. but i can't seem to get it to recreate my old user for the life of me.... any ideas?