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Level 1

0 points

Home folder lost - user account restored to default

I installed SL last weekend, no major problems but many annoying bugs. This morning when I woke up the computer had hung - screen saver was frozen. I held down the power key to shutdown. Turned the computer back on, clicked on my user account icon, and it was like I'd just picked up a new computer... my home folder had been replaced with a "straight out of the box" home folder. Standard desktop, standard dock, nothing in my documents folder, standard library. My entire home folder is gone.

All apps are still available - they are on a different partition with the OS.

The partition where my home folder lives is now virtually empty. I used stellar pheonix to try to recover the files from my home folder, but it did not find them as lost not as deleted files. It gave me the option of recovering about 40GB of deleted files, but they were legitimately deleted files.

I have repaired the disk - no problems. Any suggestions would be appreciated...

MacBookPro5,1

Posted on Sep 3, 2009 12:11 PM

95 replies

Oct 28, 2009 4:13 PM in response to dubaidan

dubaidan wrote:
Snow Leopard is not turning into Vista. That's just ridiculous. As the user who started this thread (first hit?) affirm that it is a serious bug - but I was for the most part backed up with TM, and now I'm over it. I love SL.

I can't believe you would compare OSX with Vista in this way.

Ok friend

Explain this please:

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/10/28/macos_x_10_6_2_to_update_nearly_150_snow_leopardcomponents.html

150 corrections to be made in 10.6.2

I just wish Apple would issue this update sooner, but I guess that they have their hands full.

JonB8305

Level 1

4 points

Oct 29, 2009 5:44 PM in response to Johnny MacHappy

Will that update restore the items that were deleted? I'm sure they are still on my system somewhere, I just can't find them.

Oct 31, 2009 5:57 AM in response to Adam Strock

"This just happened to me. My home folder was completely wiped after logging into Guest Account and then into my normal account. I am going to attempt to restore my files with Time Machine when I get home from work. This is an incredibly inconvenient, real bug that needs to be fixed immediately."

AAARRRGH: happenend also to me! Advise from the retailer: install the OS again.
So I did, started Tim Machine and noticed that also my backups are deleted form the end of january this year. It backs up to a raid disk, so I hope the other part of the disk will still have the proper data.

Oct 31, 2009 6:03 AM in response to themacrepairguy

themacrepairguy wrote:
Posted Oct 12, 2009 -> http://www.macrumors.com/2009/10/12/snow-leopard-bug-responsible-for-loss-of-use r-data-gaining-notice/

This could be due to a bug in how guest accounts are managed since data and settings are deleted from these accounts upon logout, but also could be from some corruption in the guest account. So far, it does not seem to be a widespread problem.

If this happens to you, immediately restore using your latest Time Machine backup (or other full system backup), and then go to the Accounts system preferences and disable log-in on the guest account.

This is why apple developed time machine......

Yep, but anyone heard something about this bug also delete backups from your time-machine? Looks happened to me

Nov 4, 2009 5:16 PM in response to Hyperworld

I hate to say it, but this happened to me today.

I use my macbook to take notes in my classes and today, in my first class, I accidentally clicked my guest account. Logged out, logged into my Admin account, and everything's gone! Lab homework, lab Numbers worksheets, papers, lecture notes, everything was gone.

It looks like my time machine was wiped clean as well because I'm trying to open up time machine and it keeps asking me to set up time machine, but it won't let me select any back up disks. Nothing comes up.

I wanted to try doing the restore using my SL cd, but I can't seem to find it. The only one I can find is my Leopard cd that came with my macbook.

ubernaut

Level 1

78 points

Nov 4, 2009 5:29 PM in response to asaguilar23

i'm not sure but i think you can restore to a leopard install but you'd probably want to only restore the user folder not any of the applications.

Nov 4, 2009 5:42 PM in response to ubernaut

Thanks for your reply ubernaut.

Will there be any harm in trying?

Ehh, I may as well try, while I continue looking for my SL disc.

ubernaut

Level 1

78 points

Nov 4, 2009 5:45 PM in response to asaguilar23

yeah i don't see how. restore from time machine partition is a read only function. you should not harm your backup by trying to restore from it. anyone feel free to correct me if you have any reason why i'd be wrong there.

Nov 4, 2009 6:16 PM in response to ubernaut

I really appreciate your help uber.

I just tried and when it got to the "RESTORE FROM BACKUP" window, nothing. No backups came up.

I'm really starting to get nervous here.

On another note, my time machine, as it is now, isn't configured. When I try to set it up by clicking "Select Backup Disk," nothing shows up for me to select. Maybe the reason I can't restore from back up is because my TM isn't configured?

ubernaut

Level 1

78 points

Nov 4, 2009 6:42 PM in response to asaguilar23

the restore should be accessed from the installer or from the welcome wizard, alternatively you can also access the files directly (probably you'd want a second mac attached through target mode for that one), but that be a little more hairy.

Nov 4, 2009 6:53 PM in response to ubernaut

When you say installer/welcome wizard, do you mean from when you boot with the install disc in the drive and try to restore from there? If so, I tried that with the Leopard disc, but nothing.

Trying to set up TM right now and nothing. It wont let me select any disk to "Use for Backup."

ubernaut

Level 1

78 points

Nov 4, 2009 7:25 PM in response to asaguilar23

um if you get time machine setup with your drive there is a good chance you will erase your backup. i wouldn't try that anymore. i strongly urge you to call apple tech support in the morning and have them walk you through the procedure; i feel like i may be leading you into further trouble, this forum is not a very good way to deal with problems of this magnitude.

Nov 4, 2009 7:31 PM in response to ubernaut

Lol. All good. I do appreciate you trying to help though.

I won't be able to give them a call tomorrow as I have classes all morning and then busy all throughout.

Oh well.

Nov 5, 2009 2:56 AM in response to dubaidan

I going to do just that sell the iphone and the ***ing imac... I haven't the heart to go and put every thing on the mac again..... apple new advert just made me............ windows 7 how bad can it be..... ? A new sony vaio notebook and Sony Ericsson Equinox phone for me......

Apple you should have said sorry at least

Slán agaibh

JonB8305

Level 1

4 points

Nov 9, 2009 10:05 PM in response to dubaidan

That latest update fixes this bu.

Home folder lost - user account restored to default