OS X Lion - Can't login as root after disabling then reenabling

Hello,

I'm having a problem logging into the root account of my macbook pro running Lion 10.7.1. I enabled the root account and everything was fine. I logged into it a few times and made some changes unrelated to passwords etc. Once I was done I disabled the root account. I then had to use it again and enabled it. Now I can't login. I tried resetting the password using the Directory Utility and terminal but neither work. Directory Utility appears to work but doesn't and no error message is given. Terminal gives me the following error using the sudo passwd root command:

Password:

Changing password for root.

New password:

Retype new password:

passwd: Could not verify credentials because directory server does not support the requested authentication method.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I need to get this password reset and Apple support wasn't any help. Thanks.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.1)

Posted on Sep 1, 2011 7:11 AM

28 replies

znamoh

Level 1

4 points

Sep 26, 2011 1:35 PM in response to Ludacris1

I did exactly the same thing as Ludacris1. Is there any way to fix this, short of restoring from backup?

Sep 26, 2011 2:20 PM in response to Crazy Skull Guy

I'm not sure how to fix it if you delete the root user. Please make sure only to delete the AuthenticationAuthority entry and not the root user. I just assumed this was obvious. I apologize.

Sep 26, 2011 5:23 PM in response to Crazy Skull Guy

Unfortunately, I can't seem to find a way to edit the original post.

Oct 22, 2011 1:47 PM in response to MontanaProducts

I tried that but I got the

dsenableroot:: ***Failed to enable root user.

but thanks anyways 🙂

Oct 22, 2011 3:19 PM in response to MontanaProducts

dscl . -create /Users/root NFSHomeDirectory /var/root command brings back the root user for anyone if needed

Nov 21, 2011 11:11 PM in response to Crazy Skull Guy

Thank you so much!! This was very helpful and saved me from a potential computer catastrophe! Wonderful explination!

vietnt

Level 1

0 points

Dec 17, 2011 1:40 AM in response to Crazy Skull Guy

Thank you!

It's great

Jan 11, 2012 6:44 PM in response to cekisakurek

Hi. I have this problem of tryiing to re-create back the root account. It says that attribute status: eDSPermission Error. Can you help me with this?

JMaine

Level 1

5 points

Jan 12, 2012 2:46 PM in response to Crazy Skull Guy

Dude if you're ever in Dallas, TX look me up!! I OWE YOU A BEER! Thats some GREAT knowledge right there. JMaine

Jan 15, 2012 8:14 AM in response to cekisakurek

Please, tell me if someone solved the problem to "reinstall" the "System Administrator"! Or should I reinstall Lion?

jr smith

Level 1

0 points

Feb 1, 2012 10:01 AM in response to theories

Here are the fields/attributes I added or changed

NFSHomeDirectory - /var/root

PrimaryGroupID - 0

RealName - System Administrator

RecordName - root

UniqueID - 0

UserShell - /bin/sh

theories

Level 1

0 points

Feb 1, 2012 5:47 PM in response to jr smith

I finally got it to work!. This is awesome.

Much thanks to jr smith, shepar38 and of course Crazy Skull Guy. It took a combination of all three techniques to work my way out of this one.

Jul 21, 2012 9:48 AM in response to Crazy Skull Guy

Thank you so much! 😁 I don't know how You've come up with this but that's great! But I guess I'll never disable root again.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

OS X Lion - Can't login as root after disabling then reenabling