nfotx

Q: Changing a Standard User

Speaking from a vey low level of expertise here.  I need to change the person who's name shows up next to the little house in the finder.  Under accounts, she is a Standard User.  She no longer works here and I would like the new employee to be the principal User.  I am the Administrator.

 

When I try to delete her, the minus sign at the bottom of the Current Users pane is grayed out.  When I log on as Administrator, her User Name will not highlight.  It is as if her being a User is locked into the computer.

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9), Magic mouse

Posted on Jan 16, 2015 12:58 PM

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Q: Changing a Standard User

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  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Jan 16, 2015 1:04 PM in response to nfotx
    Level 10 (271,291 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 16, 2015 1:04 PM in response to nfotx

    Did you click on the large lock icon in the lower left of the Users & Groups preferences?

  • by nfotx,

    nfotx nfotx Jan 16, 2015 1:17 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Jan 16, 2015 1:17 PM in response to Kappy

    Yes, I unlocked it with my administrator name and password.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Jan 16, 2015 1:45 PM in response to nfotx
    Level 10 (271,291 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 16, 2015 1:45 PM in response to nfotx

    And, when you select this user's account you are unable to delete it. You are logged into the computer's admin account, correct? Is this user's account protected in any way?

  • by nfotx,

    nfotx nfotx Jan 16, 2015 1:50 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Jan 16, 2015 1:50 PM in response to Kappy

    That is what I have been scratching my head about.  It seems to be protected.  Do you know of any protection levels or methods that might be in place?

     

    If a new computer was set-up with her as the original User, is there something that could have been done during that set-up that might be causing this?

     

    Changing the name of the person next to the house icon is not that big a deal is it?  This isn't going into root users, right?

  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy Jan 16, 2015 1:59 PM in response to nfotx
    Level 10 (271,291 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 16, 2015 1:59 PM in response to nfotx

    Without knowing what it is or gaining access to her account then I haven't a clue. I suggest you just wipe the entire drive and start fresh from scratch.

     

    Short Name- OS X- How to change user account name or home directory name

     

    I cannot tell you how to wipe the computer without knowing exactly which Mac model it is and what version of OS X you install on it.

  • by nfotx,

    nfotx nfotx Jan 16, 2015 2:35 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Jan 16, 2015 2:35 PM in response to Kappy

    Kappy,

     

    I printed the link and will give it a try.  I'll let you know how it goes.

     

    Thanks for all your help.

  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster Jan 16, 2015 2:43 PM in response to nfotx
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    Jan 16, 2015 2:43 PM in response to nfotx

    Let me ask again. Are you logged into the computer from an Administrators account, not the user account you are trying to delete?

  • by nfotx,

    nfotx nfotx Jan 16, 2015 2:51 PM in response to LowLuster
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Jan 16, 2015 2:51 PM in response to LowLuster

    Yes, I am on the "Current User" list on the left side and it says "Administrator" under my name.  I switched over to myself and logged in as the Administrator.  When I click on her picture, name, user type it will not highlight.

     

    Now, I just noticed that on my computer, her name is associated with an icon supplied by Apple.  But, on the computer she used to use, that icon is not there and it is a photo of herself.  If that makes any difference or not.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Jan 16, 2015 2:58 PM in response to nfotx
    Level 10 (271,291 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 16, 2015 2:58 PM in response to nfotx

    It doesn't. She just replaced one image for another. The real issue is if the computer is running Mavericks or Yosemite then the drive could be encrypted or her account is encrypted - both using FileVault.

     

    If you can't get this resolved in reasonable time just wipe the drive. It may prove faster than what you are now trying to do.