Help Lost my admin privileges!

[orbitaone]

I was just handed down a previously used laptop. I proceeded to reconfigure OS X to my preferred settings. I went through the process of making the current admin account into my own. I then decided to reset the previous short name to my new short name by logging in as root etc... I was successful in changing the short name BUT in the process it appears that I somehow made a misake and switched my account privileges from "admin" to "standard". Now I can't install any new software because the system tells me I don't have the right privileges. Odd thing is that I can still log in using my username and password. Anyone have any idea how I can make my account into a admin again? (fyi, this is the only account on the machine)

Thanks in advance!

[orbitaone]

I recently recieved a used system. While attempting to reconfigure the current system admin settings (i.e. username, shortname etc...) I seem to have switched my user privileges from "admin" to "standard". So now when I go in and try to install new software or change system settings I am not allowed. Any idea on how to make my user a "admin" again??

Thanks!

[Raven]

You will need to change the short user name back to the old one. When you change the short name, it creates a new account.
Otherwsie, you should be able to use the login window to loginw ith your enabled Root account using root as user name and the password you set as password...But you need to have either the "Other" field available in the list of users or to have it set to ask for the user name and password... Then while logged in as root you could actually set the proper privileges for your other account.

[hayne]

I've never done it but I recall reading that you can reset the admin/root password via one of the menus that you get when you boot from the Install CD. You don't need to re-install - this is available before the install starts. To boot from the CD, you insert it and then restart the Mac and then hold down the C key after you hear the chime.

But note that I would strongly recommend erasing the disk and reinstalling a fresh copy of OS X - you don't really know what the previous user did to the system. I.e. I recommend using the "erase & install" option from the CD. Then you will get to recreate your user account.

[Las_Vegas]

Simply login again as Root and undo what you did! Once this is done, you can login with that account and create a new Admin account with your name. After you're sure that account works, you can remove the old account.

[orbitaone]

Quote: Originally Posted by Las_Vegas Simply login again as Root and undo what you did! Once this is done, you can login with that account and create a new Admin account with your name. After you're sure that account works, you can remove the old account.

Can't log-in as root. Again my user id is no longer an "admin" therefore I cannot "enable the root user"

[orbitaone]

Quote: Originally Posted by hayne I've never done it but I recall reading that you can reset the admin/root password via one of the menus that you get when you boot from the Install CD. You don't need to re-install - this is available before the install starts. To boot from the CD, you insert it and then restart the Mac and then hold down the C key after you hear the chime. But note that I would strongly recommend erasing the disk and reinstalling a fresh copy of OS X - you don't really know what the previous user did to the system. I.e. I recommend using the "erase & install" option from the CD. Then you will get to recreate your user account.

I've read other posts that suggest a similar solution I'll have to give it a try.

[Las_Vegas]

You can enable and set the Root password through the Set Password feature on the OS X Boot CD.

[orb1]

Tried booting off the OSX CD. But my mac won't let me. I am guessing that it won't because I still have insufficient priveleges. I tried holding "C" while booting up but I appear to freeze it when I do this. I also tried going to the system preferences but again my account doesn't have admin status. Anyone else have some good ideas?


Thanks in advance!

[trevor]

If you can't boot from an OS X Install CD, there are several possible explanations:

1. The OS X Install CD is older than the computer that you are attempting to boot, or is keyed to a specific type of Mac other than the type you have. In this case, you will need to get a newer Install CD, or the one that shipped with this specific computer.

2. You have an Open Firmware password set. More info here and here. You will need to unset the OF password.

3. You have some type of PRAM or Open Firmware variable corruption. In that case, do both procedures to Zap the PRAM and Reset Open Firmware: directioins.

Once you have resolved this problem, it would be a very good idea to always maintain a second pristine administrator account on the computer, that you only use when you are having problems with your main account.

I would also strongly agree with hayne that you would be best served doing an "Erase and Install" on a computer for which you don't know the exact history.

Trevor

[orbitaone]

Thank you all for your quick responses. I was able to boot with the Software installer CD that came with the powerbook. I didn't realize that it need to be "that" specific disc. I thought one would be able to boot from a OS X panther installation disc.

To recap... I booted off of the Installation Disc that came with my powerbook. I reset the "root" password and restarted the computer... then logged in as "root" . I went into the system preferences and changed the security settings for my "standard" users to "admin". I then logged out of "root" and logged back in as my new and improved "admin" account and I now have admin privileges. I then went into the Netinfo manager and disabled root user. Presto everything is how it should be.


Thanks!

[cwtnospam]

Quote: Originally Posted by orbitaone Presto everything is how it should be.

I suggest that you now create two more accounts. Make them both admin accounts and save their user names & passwords someplace safe.

Then, after you've confirmed that you can log into both new accounts, set your current account (the one you'll normally be using) to be a standard account. You'll need to enter one of the other user names & passwords when installing software, but your system will be safer.

[trevor]

Quote: Originally Posted by orbitaone Thank you all for your quick responses. I was able to boot with the Software installer CD that came with the powerbook. I didn't realize that it need to be "that" specific disc. I thought one would be able to boot from a OS X panther installation disc.

You're welcome! Just to clarify, you do not need to boot with the specific Software Installer CD that came with your computer, although that is always a safe option. You can boot with any OS X Full Install CD that is the same age or newer than the computer. You can't boot with an Install CD or DVD older than the computer, since the correct boot ROM specific to your computer will not be present on the disc.

Trevor

[badobsession3]

right i got the same problem as this guy:
netinfo manager problem, no user privelages etc etc...
have tried to reboot OS from cd but dont work, just freezes like above,
reset PRAM, reset all etc as told to do but sadly it still doesnt work.
just keeps freezing when trying to run from disc.

Now through the process of elimination i now know that it is most likely the OS disc that is not up to scratch, i have a power mac G5 2004, but bought it off display in local store for cheap price and no startup discs came with it! so i tried using a copied version of OS panther off my mate, but perhaps its too old a copy or maybe macs know if the disc is an illegal copy? i dunno.

Anyway to post my question...what OS discs definately WILL work?
is it wiser to just buy tiger, is it more likely to work being the newest OS out? or can i do it the naughty way by getting a copy of it, or is that not possible?
And if the disc doesnt work, then what.....


Thanks in advance everyone.

[hayne]

Quote: Originally Posted by badobsession3 i now know that it is most likely the OS disc that is not up to scratch, i have a power mac G5 2004, but bought it off display in local store for cheap price and no startup discs came with it! so i tried using a copied version of OS panther off my mate, but perhaps its too old a copy or maybe macs know if the disc is an illegal copy?

I think the question of which disks will work has been answered above.
But it is clear that in your case what you need to do is buy a legit copy of the OS. You can either buy a retail copy of Tiger (best, but more $) or get a copy of Panther from eBay where they are quite cheap.
Make sure that you get a retail version of the CD, not just an upgrade or "restore" disk (that came with some particular model of Mac).

By the way, you should always erase the drive and install a fresh copy of OS X from the CD/DVD when you buy a used Mac. You have no idea what the previous owner did with the OS. It could be filled with malware due to maliciousness, or just due to incompetence.
And a store model has been exposed to all kinds of (not necessarily nice) people.