[Darren K]

I think I may have had this one other time, but I don't recall. If so, the problem corrected itself somehow. Upon restarting my computer today (Power Mac G4 450, 10.4.9), after the progress bar completes on the starting up OS X screen, it proceeds to the following screen:



I do not have multiple users set up, or anything set up for a login to be prompted; it should boot directly to the desktop. I have entered my known user name and password, and tried all other combinations I would ever use, but it doesn't accept. Does anyone know how to possibly get past this?

Thanks.

[Sherman Homan]

Welcome, Darren! Could be a cranky netinfo database, you can reset the password by booting off of your Tiger install disk. Don't go into the re-installation process, just choose your language and go to the menu bar where it says Utilities. Select "Reset Password", select your normal user login name, and enter a new password. Good Luck!

[Darren K]

Thanks, Sherman. I totally forgot to try that. I did give that a shot, but there was no change. The screen still comes up and is still not accepting it. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Cold Warrior]

If you don't have something like SSH set up or if the Reset Password option isn't working, then an archive-install would be the next method I'd use. If you tell it to preserve users and network settings, then maybe the problem will go away, or maybe Reset Password will work after the archive-install. If you don't want to bother with that chance, then just don't let it preserve users, then manually move stuff from your user library later, once logged in as a new admin user.

[Darren K]

I just finished doing the archive install and that did the trick. Thanks for the suggestion. It's been so long since I've had a problem that I forgot how to troubleshoot.

[Sherman Homan]

Good job! Glad it worked out.
Now go do a backup!