[pete]

So this is what happens when one messes with things one does not understand...


I wanted to change the short username and followed a tip to use netinfo manager to do so. I clicked users and then in the window below where it said 'name' I changed that to the name I wanted. Now I can't log in to my system and my previous username and password are rejected. I also realize that would I did made no sense.

Is there anything I can do to get in again? Did I delete the root user by doing what I did?


Any help would be greatly appreciated. And I promise never to mess around again...

[pete]

I have a backup of my entire system from two ten days ago. Is there any way to replace all the netinfo data/preferences with the sames files from my old backup? I'd prefer not to loose the last ten days of data...

[pete]

I fixed it by copying the netinfo database from my backup copy.... I'll never again mess with this stuff.

[lastcrime14]

I have the same problem my computer doesn't reconize my username or password and i do not have a backup could someone help

[reader50]

Try logging in with the revised name you used, and the old password. Try logging in to a regular account, then fast user switch to the other accounts. If you can't get into an admin account, then use the OSX Install DVD to change the admin password to a new one. Or back to the old one.

Your system isn't hosed, all your data can be reached. If you can boot from another disk or partition, then you can copy off all your data. If you have another Mac, boot the problem Mac in FireWire Target Disk Mode and copy the inaccessible files across.

Question, are you running from a regular or admin account, or are you running as the root user? The question is important if you reinstall. The "preserve users and groups" option works for regular and admin users. It will not preserve the root user, a bunch of folders will get written over.

The easiest solution is just to get into an admin account again, and change back what you did in NetInfo Manager. Failing that, get your data to somewhere safe and reinstall.

[Edit]this is what happens when you take too long to write the reply. glad to hear it worked out, pete.[/Edit]

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by reader50

[Edit]this is what happens when you take too long to write the reply. glad to hear it worked out, pete.[/Edit]

But too quick an answer can be less understandable or not take all factors into account. I prefer being late with a good answer than fast with a crummy one .

[pete]

ghporter,
Thanks anyway for taking the time and trying to help. It's the first time I've ever been locked out of my computer and I sort of panicked. I was lucky that this worked because, by mistake, I moved the database from the backup to my computer and couldn't move it/copy it back - basically doing the same thing with my backup as I had done with my main system! Luckily it worked out and as you said, the data was all there so I would have been ok in the long run anyway. It's just scary when you don't have control and don't really know what's going on.

Thanks again,

pete