Matt1979

Q: Can't Login to new username created by Migration Assistant.

Brand new to the world of Macs and getting a bit frustrated.

 

I started a discussion earlier about how Migration Assistant created a new account and wanting to get those files to my original account. I got no response but now I'm finding a bigger issue. I can't figure out how to log on to that new user account. Initially I went to the the Users and Groups settings, and reset the password for that new user. Now when I try to log in as that new user, I get a message that says I must reset the password before loggin in. So I enter the password twice, hit reset, the window shakes and nothing happens. I've tried 3 different passwords thinking maybe it just isn't log enough, but to no avail. It won't let me reset the password at the log in screen so how am I supposed to get into the account? FWIW, its listed as a Admin account under Users & Groups if that makes any difference.

 

Assuming I can get in...what's the easiest way to get the files over to the original Admin account? I'm just transfering over iTunes (music and apps)...and nothing else. Is it easiest just to transfer files between the user accounts (which doesn't look terribly straightforward)? Should I delete the files and copy them over from a hard drive? Since the machine is only a few days old should I just wipe it clean and start again as if its brand new out of the box again? Again, just trying to get iTunes info copied over so my wife can sync her iPhone from the MacBook Pro instead of the PC.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8)

Posted on Dec 13, 2012 9:21 AM

Close

Q: Can't Login to new username created by Migration Assistant.

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by softail,

    softail softail Dec 13, 2012 9:25 AM in response to Matt1979
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Dec 13, 2012 9:25 AM in response to Matt1979

    Did you try with an empty password ?

  • by softail,

    softail softail Dec 13, 2012 9:30 AM in response to Matt1979
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Dec 13, 2012 9:30 AM in response to Matt1979

    First, note the short name of the account. This is the same as the name of its home folder, but not necessarily the name that appears in the login window.

     

    Restart your computer, and while it is starting up, hold Command-S.

    This will start up your Mac in Single User Mode. Once it has started up, you will need to enter three lines of code.

    Enter sh /etc/rcand press return.

    Then enter passwd yourusername and hit return. Now you will have to enter a new password twice.

    What you type won't appear on screen, but it is working. Once you have done this, type reboot and hit return.

  • by Matt1979,

    Matt1979 Matt1979 Dec 13, 2012 9:53 AM in response to softail
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 13, 2012 9:53 AM in response to softail

    I tried keeping the password field blank...but that doesn't work either. I probably should've tried logging on like that first before resetting the password under another username, but I didn't think it would be an issue.

     

    trying your instructions...upon trying your instructions...

     

    :/ root# sh /et/rc

    sh: /etc/rc: No such file or directory

  • by softail,

    softail softail Dec 13, 2012 9:58 AM in response to Matt1979
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Dec 13, 2012 9:58 AM in response to Matt1979
    1. Restart in Single User mode (hold Command-S during startup). Note that single-user mode always uses the US English keyboard layout.
    2. At the prompt, type this followed by Return: mount -uw /
    3. Type this:

    launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.DirectoryServices.plist

    1. Press Return
    2. Type this, then press Return: ls /Users
    3. Look at the listing and note the short name (username) of the affected user account.
    4. Type this:

      dscl . -delete /Users/username AuthenticationAuthority

      Note: Replace "username" with the affected user account's short name you noted above.
    5. Press Return
    6. Type this, followed by Return: passwd username

      Note: Replace "username" with the affected user account's short name you noted above.
    7. At the "New password:" prompt, type the user's password, then Return. Note: It is recommended that the original user's password be used to match the keychain password.
    8. At the "Retype new password" prompt, type the same password, followed by Return.
    9. Type this, followed by Return: reboot
  • by Matt1979,

    Matt1979 Matt1979 Dec 13, 2012 9:59 AM in response to Matt1979
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 13, 2012 9:59 AM in response to Matt1979

    Not sure what I did...but finally got it to work. Instead of resetting the PW, I just hit cancel. Then I entered the orignal password I entered under Users/Groups settings...then the reset password window popped up again...this time it worked when I reset it and let me login. I suspect the system assumed a blank password since it was my first time logging in and wasn't aware I had already set a password when I was logged in under the other user.

     

    Still...any input on my other dilemma? Getting my iTunes music/apps to the original user account I setup? What's the best approach?

  • by softail,

    softail softail Dec 13, 2012 11:28 AM in response to Matt1979
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Dec 13, 2012 11:28 AM in response to Matt1979

    ok.. for music i prefer to do it manually

    just place all the music files on the desktop and drag and drop on itunes

    this will input all the music in itunes

     

    the apps ....hmm this is different every time ...depends how you bucked up.. icloud or itunes?

    for apps you can connect the device and transfer to computer.

     

    did i understand correctly?

  • by Matt1979,

    Matt1979 Matt1979 Dec 13, 2012 1:03 PM in response to softail
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 13, 2012 1:03 PM in response to softail

    Well I poked around enough and finally figured out that the easiest thing for me...since I only wanted to copy over my wife's library but not our entire combined music library...was to use home share. Just had to open her library on our PC and then I'm able to copy everything over via home share on her new Mac Book. Wasted my time with migration assistant and any other method would've been overkill as well. I guess this was a unique situation since unlike most instances where you actually do want to copy over everything...I only needed to copy over her library. Thanks for the input.