I've got "Preference Error: Could not load Users

This also worked for me. I would just simply add to restart afterwards. For those who are bewildered by the Directory Utility when you launch it, just click on Directory Editor, and look down the first column for Guest or Guest1, and click on it, and then the minus button at the bottom.

I will say that I had had a non-functional Accounts preference pane (now Users and Groups in Lion) since Leopard, I believe. Thank you for this solution.

Thank's David, been trying to figure out how to fix this for awhile!!

Thanks David.... your's exactly what needed to be done.

Thank you David, after a week of trials and unsuccessful searches, your solution fixed my problem : I had a second guest account in the system (which was a Snow Leopard Macbook Pro upgraded to Lion).

Could it be that the guest account I activated once on Snow Leopard, but which was disabled at the time of the Lion upgrade, was considered a regular account when I again activated the guest login in Lion ?

Thanks david, thanks to people like you novice users like me can avoid using extreme solutions that steal a lot of time.

I've had this problem for some time in 10.6.x. Same problem persisted after multiple genious bar appointments. I reinstalled the OS and then upgraded-same problem. Your suggestion worked. Thanks David!

Thanks David. Your solution worked and saved me from having to reinstall Lion. I have to admit that I've had more issues with Lion than any other previous OS X upgrade. Roll on 10.7.3...

David,

Hi thanks for your feedback.

I dont seem to find the "I used Directory Utility (/System/Library/Core Services/Directory Utility)" you mentioned on your response.

If you can let me know where to find it

thanks,

cheers !!!

I don't exactly know how to delete. I tried command delete, but no luck

@fperezlandaeta and epicdowtownpranks, first log on to guest arount/ users and groups preferences/ logon options/ at the bottom you need to unlock with your admin user name and password/ after unlock/ network account server: click Join.../ click open directory utility/ one the top you will see directory editor click it/ at the right corner you will see ( Authenticated as ...) click and unlock it ur admin user and password/ now in the list record scroll down and find (user or user 1) and highlight it then bottom you see the + and - sign click on - to delete it. restart your computer. go back to check your user and groups preferences. now should work or your admin account. good luck guys

Ok thanks:) that worked:)

Just saved our bacon ... Nice one David.

I had this issue and deleted both guest accounts using dscl. Works now.

sudo dscl . delete /Users/Guest

sudo dscl . delete /Users/Guest1

Thank you, worked for me as well.

Thank you so much David! I thought i was the only with this problem, and that i was never going to find a solutionf for it. I re-installed Lion, and it still didnt work, I also verified and repaired my disks and nothing. Your solution worked great! Thank you!🙂