Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Software - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac OS X > Very Interesting OSX problem.

Very Interesting OSX problem.
Thread Tools
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 27, 2007, 06:12 PM
 
Earlier today I was helping a friend with their iBook G3, we were syncing their iPod touch, and diagnosing a CD Burning problem. After that was done and fixed or sorted out, I ran Onyx the maintenance utility. After a reboot, OSX asked for a username and password, which it had never done before. The password and username that were previously in use also did not work. Not to worry I said, we will just use the password reset utility on the OSX Tiger disc and reset it.

Well, I did that and what it did was create a NEW userfolder and home folder, which also means all the old folders are still there, but inaccessible.

When I open system preferences>accounts and attempt to see what accounts are available, it never opens, instead all I get is just a gray box with nothing there that should be there.



his old user folder is still there, and I presume if I can get that user back, then the computer will be back to normal.

My question is, how can I do that without either the system preference accounts panel working, or the disc itself not being able to find any user accounts to modify?
Mac Pro Dual Quad 3.2ghz, 4gb ram, 4x 1 Terabyte hdd's, 8800GT, 30inch Samsung display running OSX Leopard Server
15 inch Macbook Pro Unibody and Apple 24 inch LED Display.
     
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Status: Online
Reply With Quote
Nov 27, 2007, 06:14 PM
 
I've seen this before on the forums. . . It's an obscure problem but not unheard of. It's a cache issue, I think.

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." TJ
     
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 27, 2007, 06:19 PM
 
I would love a fix if there is one, it would make my life so much easier at the moment.
Mac Pro Dual Quad 3.2ghz, 4gb ram, 4x 1 Terabyte hdd's, 8800GT, 30inch Samsung display running OSX Leopard Server
15 inch Macbook Pro Unibody and Apple 24 inch LED Display.
     
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 27, 2007, 07:01 PM
 
I should add that this is OSX 10.4.11
Mac Pro Dual Quad 3.2ghz, 4gb ram, 4x 1 Terabyte hdd's, 8800GT, 30inch Samsung display running OSX Leopard Server
15 inch Macbook Pro Unibody and Apple 24 inch LED Display.
     
Mac Elite
Join Date: Aug 2007
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 28, 2007, 08:41 AM
 
I'm guessing they changed the short user name in the Finder?
     
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 28, 2007, 08:47 AM
 
Originally Posted by 64stang06 View Post
I'm guessing they changed the short user name in the Finder?

Yeah, thats what I thought too. Now I need to fix it.

Any ideas?
Mac Pro Dual Quad 3.2ghz, 4gb ram, 4x 1 Terabyte hdd's, 8800GT, 30inch Samsung display running OSX Leopard Server
15 inch Macbook Pro Unibody and Apple 24 inch LED Display.
     
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: FFM
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 28, 2007, 09:06 AM
 
     
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 28, 2007, 09:16 AM
 
Wont work, the administrator password no longer works and I need that to run the short-name changer.
Mac Pro Dual Quad 3.2ghz, 4gb ram, 4x 1 Terabyte hdd's, 8800GT, 30inch Samsung display running OSX Leopard Server
15 inch Macbook Pro Unibody and Apple 24 inch LED Display.
     
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: FFM
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 28, 2007, 09:56 AM
 
When you accidently change the name of the home folder in Finder you don't need the ChangeShortName utility. You just change the name back to the original in Finder again. I have my doubts that an accidental change of the home folder this is your problem even though.

You can reset the administrator passward by booting from the system disc.
     
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 30, 2007, 05:04 PM
 
Originally Posted by TETENAL View Post
When you accidently change the name of the home folder in Finder you don't need the ChangeShortName utility. You just change the name back to the original in Finder again. I have my doubts that an accidental change of the home folder this is your problem even though.

You can reset the administrator passward by booting from the system disc.
I tried. The password reset utility does not recognize any accounts to change.
Mac Pro Dual Quad 3.2ghz, 4gb ram, 4x 1 Terabyte hdd's, 8800GT, 30inch Samsung display running OSX Leopard Server
15 inch Macbook Pro Unibody and Apple 24 inch LED Display.
     
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: 888500128
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 30, 2007, 05:16 PM
 
Originally Posted by silverflyer View Post
Earlier today I was helping a friend with their iBook G3, we were syncing their iPod touch, and diagnosing a CD Burning problem. After that was done and fixed or sorted out, I ran Onyx the maintenance utility.
What exactly did "diagnosing a CD Burning problem" (and presumably fixing it) involve?

What did you run Onyx for?

You could try booting it into Firewire Target Disk mode and manually deleting the contents of every Cache folder in /System, /Library, and /Users/herusername/Library
     
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 30, 2007, 05:26 PM
 
Diagnosing the CD-Burning ability entailed trying to burn a cd and getting a message that said the burn speed was set too high, even though we had set it at 1x. I was unable to fix that, my only guess is a hardware problem, not a software problem with that.

Onyx was run for general maintenance because it has been a while.

I will try that.

Jason.
Mac Pro Dual Quad 3.2ghz, 4gb ram, 4x 1 Terabyte hdd's, 8800GT, 30inch Samsung display running OSX Leopard Server
15 inch Macbook Pro Unibody and Apple 24 inch LED Display.
     
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: FFM
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 30, 2007, 07:45 PM
 
Originally Posted by silverflyer View Post
Onyx was run for general maintenance because it has been a while.
Doing this is completely unnecessary.
     
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 30, 2007, 08:50 PM
 
Originally Posted by TETENAL View Post
Doing this is completely unnecessary.
There are people that would disagree with you.
Mac Pro Dual Quad 3.2ghz, 4gb ram, 4x 1 Terabyte hdd's, 8800GT, 30inch Samsung display running OSX Leopard Server
15 inch Macbook Pro Unibody and Apple 24 inch LED Display.
     
Moderator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Wasilla, Alaska
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 30, 2007, 10:00 PM
 
Originally Posted by silverflyer View Post
There are people that would disagree with you.
They would be wrong.
     
Mac Elite
Join Date: Nov 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 30, 2007, 11:04 PM
 
Originally Posted by silverflyer View Post
There are people that would disagree with you.
Yeah because they don't know what they're talking about.
     
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: 888500128
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 1, 2007, 01:56 AM
 
Originally Posted by silverflyer View Post
Onyx was run for general maintenance because it has been a while.
Which version of Onyx, and what exactly did you have it do?
     
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 1, 2007, 12:27 PM
 
Originally Posted by analogika View Post
Which version of Onyx, and what exactly did you have it do?


version 1.8.3 of Onyx. I ran the maintenance and clean up utilities.
Mac Pro Dual Quad 3.2ghz, 4gb ram, 4x 1 Terabyte hdd's, 8800GT, 30inch Samsung display running OSX Leopard Server
15 inch Macbook Pro Unibody and Apple 24 inch LED Display.
     
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: 888500128
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 1, 2007, 12:50 PM
 
OnyX 1.8.4b software download - Mac OS X - VersionTracker

DON'T INSTALL 1.8.3 - Version: 1.8.3, 9/21/2007 03:21PM PST
(2 of 3 users found this comment useful)

malachi.michelle
As per my last comments, because of this software, I have to do a complete re-install.
Lucky, I have an extra hard drive to back everything up.

This software has been getting worse with time and is no longer reliable!
DON'T INSTALL 1.8.3 - Version: 1.8.3, 9/21/2007 01:31PM PST
(2 of 3 users found this comment useful)

malachi.michelle
I've been using Onyx for some time and have noticed that this product is getting worse.
I just updated to 1.8.3 but when I ran it, onyx complained about some Apple Script problems.
After check-in the Onyx's forum, there is an incompatiblity problem with mac os x 10.4.10.
It would be nice to have that in the summary or clearly stated somewhere!

As a result, several applications no longer work, such as Mail, AdobeReader, etc.
Why the hell would one use Onyx anyway?

Don't **** with it if it ain't broke.

A solution in search of a problem

etc. (insert other cliché here)
     
   
Thread Tools
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:33 AM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2011 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.7 © 2000-2011, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd., Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.3.2