Problems Resetting .AppleSetupDone

Extending on what BDAqua wrote…

If you’re unsure of shell syntax (or writing a script defensively), use vertical double quotes " (not the “” angled quotes!) around all paths. If you have multiple volumes, check each for that file.

cd "/Volumes"
ls -l # This will show all volumes
cd "/Volumes/[whatever]/var/db"
ls -la # You might see a .AppleSetupDone file
rm ".AppleSetupDone" #if you do find it

You might need a sudo rm command, based on some of what I’m finding elsewhere.

But I’d expect a Mac that can’t boot via power button or Command-R (“My Mac Pro will not let me boot up either by just pressing the Power button or using Command + R”) is well and truly stuffed, and you’ll want to discuss this matter with folks that know what happened to allow this Mac Pro to get even to macOS 11.

I’ve had issues using the .AppleSetupDone in years past, and I’m not sure that path even still sorta-kinda works.

If you’ve not already tried it: If you forgot your Mac login password - Apple Support

Then tried this: If you can't reset your Mac login password - Apple Support

Robert Brown10 wrote:

My Mac Pro will not let me boot up either by just pressing the Power button or using Command + R. Is there any other way I can boot up to get into Options? Also, unfortunately, I don't have the Recover DVD for the computer.

Recovery DVDs haven’t been used for ~fourteen years. Online Recovery has been the norm, and that has gotten rather better and more capable since macOS 10.12 or so. The last Mac Pro with a DVD drive is a ~dozen years old, too.

Is this a Mac Pro 2013 (“trashcan”), or Mac Pro 2019 (“lattice”)? Given you’re seemingly running macOS 11, hr a 2013 trashcan, or the 2019 Intel lattice are the only Mac Pro options. Probably not a Mac Pro 2006-2012 (“cheese-grater”) or Apple silicon 2023 (lattice”), given the macOS shown.

If a long press on the power switch isn’t working, and you’ll also want to have tried a wired keyboard. you’ll either need to figure out why the Mac Pro isn’t powering up, or get it repaired, or replace it.

If you can get it booted, run Diagnostics. Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support

Diagnostics aren’t great at finding transient errors, but can find overt errors.

The last of the Mac Pro Cheese-grater models officially top out at macOS 10.14 Mojave (for Mac Pro 2010 and 2012 models with a Metal capable graphics controller), so you’ll want to discuss this with some folks more familiar with how this Mac Pro even got to macOS 11. Which may be related to what you’re reporting here.

Is this about the Mac Pro desktop running macOS 11.7 as shown in your equipment line, or a different Apple device? I have to ask for two reasons: the equipment lines are wrong about half the time, and this forum section is for Apple devices made before about 2006 and questions about newer devices get few views.

If something else, please post the model, sub-model (the part with a year) and the macOS version it is running.

Thanks.

cd Macintosh\ HD\ 1

Or..

cd "Macintosh HD 1"