isabeldgp
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: HELP! I deleted my home user folder and now I don't have permissions

Hi everyone!

I made a horrible mistake... I've deleted accidentally my Home folder (under Users) just because I've clicked in the minus... It was really accidentally and now, after I've restarted my computer, absolutely nothing works.

 

1) I've tried to restore a backup and no folder appeared the the list so apparently I have no backups...

2) The folder is still under Users but with teh red "Stop" sign that tells me that I don't have permission to see its contents.

3) My right click is not working so I can't enter in the folder details

4) the majority of my Mac's applications are not working because they were under that folder. One of them is App Store that doesn't work at all.

5) I tried to create a new folder and copy the old one inside but during the process of copying the files I get an error message that says that I don't have enough permissions to proceed.

 

I don't know what to do anymore! Really!.... I don't have something so simple as a Documents folder! Downloads folder! Things like that.... I'm really sad...

 

Thank you in advance for your help!

Isabel

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2), 2,5 GHz Intel Core i5, 4GB 1333MHz

Posted on Apr 26, 2014 10:07 AM

by Barney-15E,Solvedanswer
Barney-15E Barney-15E
Level 9 (50,339 points)
Mac OS X
A:

So, if you open Macintosh HD, then open Applications, that folder doesn't have your apps in there?

 

Did you pay someone to screw up your Mac? If so, take it to them and have them fix it.

 

If not, create a new User account. Check the box to allow that user to administer the Mac.

Log out and log into that new account.

 

From that user, get info on the old user home folder and set your new user as the owner with read/write permissions as I discussed before. Apply to enclosed.

Move all of your documents out of that home folder and into your new one.

When you have transferred all of your documents to the new user home, delete the old account from the Users & Groups System Prefs. If you want to archive that home folder just in case, do so when asked.

 

Boot into Recovery and reinstall OS X. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4718

 

That should reinstall any Apple apps except iLife and iWork. You'll have to reinstall those from the App Store as indicated in the Recovery Article.

Reinstall any third-party apps from the install disks or downloads. Make sure to put them in the main Applications folder, not in the one in your home folder.

Posted on Apr 27, 2014 11:01 AM

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isabeldgp

Q: HELP! I deleted my home user folder and now I don't have permissions

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Barney-15E,Helpful

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Apr 26, 2014 10:14 AM in response to isabeldgp
    Level 9 (50,339 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2014 10:14 AM in response to isabeldgp

    You can't delete a folder by clicking a minus anywhere.

     

    Did you remove yourself from the permissions?

    If so, select the folder and type cmd-I (get info)

    In the permissions section, click the padlock and authenticate with an admin username and password (if yours is an admin account, it should work)

    Click the add button and select your user name

    Give yourself read & write permissions

    Select your username in the list and make you the owner from the gear menu below the list.

    Select Apply to a Enclosed from the gear menu.

  • by isabeldgp,Helpful

    isabeldgp isabeldgp Apr 26, 2014 10:59 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2014 10:59 AM in response to Barney-15E

    Thank you for your fast answer Barney!

     

    Since you answered me I'm trying to add my Permission in the folder in the +. My issue now is that, everytime I try, the "Finder" stays in "Not responding". I saw it several times on the "Force Quit Applications" window.

     

    Do you have any idea what might the problem be?

     

    Once again thank you for your help!

    Isabel

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Apr 26, 2014 12:01 PM in response to isabeldgp
    Level 9 (50,339 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2014 12:01 PM in response to isabeldgp

    I don't know why it does that, but a couple of things to try:

    1) Repair permissions using Disk Utility

    2) boot into Safe Mode and try from there

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564

  • by isabeldgp,

    isabeldgp isabeldgp Apr 27, 2014 7:35 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 27, 2014 7:35 AM in response to Barney-15E

    Hi Barney,

     

    once again thank you so much for your help but now I'm even more worried. I repeated twice the following steps:

     

    1) I've repaired Permissions using Disk Utility

    2) boot into Safe Mode and try from there...

     

    and it doesn't work! I still have the same issue of  having the Finder "Not responding", even after I add my admin password first. Just by clicking on the +, my iMac will freeze.

     

    Since everything was under my home user folder, I don't even have access to something so simple as to Safari. Basically I don't know what to do anymore.

     

    Thank you!

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Apr 27, 2014 9:26 AM in response to isabeldgp
    Level 9 (50,339 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 27, 2014 9:26 AM in response to isabeldgp

    Why are your applications in your user home folder? They should all be in /Applications right inside Macintosh HD.

    Whatever you did to get them there may be part of your problem

  • by isabeldgp,

    isabeldgp isabeldgp Apr 27, 2014 10:46 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 27, 2014 10:46 AM in response to Barney-15E

    Hi Barney,

     

    unfortunately it wasn't me doing the initial setup of my iMac so I didn't know that my applications were all under my user home folder until yesterday.

     

    Do you know anyway to make it work? Honestly I don't mind anymore about the data I will loose, I mind about the fact that I can't use my iMac at all.

     

    Once again thank you!

  • by Barney-15E,Solvedanswer

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Apr 27, 2014 11:01 AM in response to isabeldgp
    Level 9 (50,339 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 27, 2014 11:01 AM in response to isabeldgp

    So, if you open Macintosh HD, then open Applications, that folder doesn't have your apps in there?

     

    Did you pay someone to screw up your Mac? If so, take it to them and have them fix it.

     

    If not, create a new User account. Check the box to allow that user to administer the Mac.

    Log out and log into that new account.

     

    From that user, get info on the old user home folder and set your new user as the owner with read/write permissions as I discussed before. Apply to enclosed.

    Move all of your documents out of that home folder and into your new one.

    When you have transferred all of your documents to the new user home, delete the old account from the Users & Groups System Prefs. If you want to archive that home folder just in case, do so when asked.

     

    Boot into Recovery and reinstall OS X. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4718

     

    That should reinstall any Apple apps except iLife and iWork. You'll have to reinstall those from the App Store as indicated in the Recovery Article.

    Reinstall any third-party apps from the install disks or downloads. Make sure to put them in the main Applications folder, not in the one in your home folder.

  • by isabeldgp,

    isabeldgp isabeldgp Apr 27, 2014 12:21 PM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 27, 2014 12:21 PM in response to Barney-15E

    Thank you a thousand Barney!... I will try to fix this mess.

    Once again thank you!!

  • by isabeldgp,

    isabeldgp isabeldgp Jul 5, 2014 5:59 AM in response to isabeldgp
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 5, 2014 5:59 AM in response to isabeldgp

    I can't use my iMac since accidentally I removed my own permissions into the main folder...

    i've been using the Guest login but I can't even save anything. All apps and docs are in the admin folder I can't access to.

    my iMac freezes after I click on the "+" sign, even if I added already my admin password.

    image.jpg

    can someone help me please?

     

    Thank you in advance!!

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Jul 5, 2014 1:25 PM in response to isabeldgp
    Level 9 (50,339 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 5, 2014 1:25 PM in response to isabeldgp

    Follow steps 1 & 2 of the following (don't do three--also, note all of the cautions)

    http://www.cnet.com/uk/how-to/how-to-quickly-restore-a-missing-admin-account-in- os-x/

    instesd of 3, run this command:

    chown balazsbogner:staff /Users/balazsbogner

     

    Just to clarify, that is chown <space> <your user name>:staff <space> /Users/<your user name>

    Then type "reboot"

  • by criserghei,

    criserghei criserghei Jan 15, 2016 12:16 PM in response to isabeldgp
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jan 15, 2016 12:16 PM in response to isabeldgp

    HI Isabel

     

    can you please help me and tell me how have you fixed your Mac ?

     

    I've done the same mistake as you and now i can' access my Downloads, my Documents folder or anything like that.

     

    i would be the most grateful if you can help.

     

    THank you.