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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

Top-ranking reply

Crazy Skull Guy Author

Level 1

8 points

Posted on Sep 1, 2011 9:47 AM

I figured out a solution to this on my own. For those of you that might need it do the following:

1. Go to System Preferences> Users and Groups

2. Click on "Login Options"

3. Click the lock on the bottom left and login using your administrator login and password (should be who you are currently logged on as....this is not the root or System Administrator credentials)

4. Click the "Join..." button.

5. Click the "Open Directory Utility" button.

6. Click the "Directory Editor" option in the Directory Utility window.

7. Scroll down the left side until you see "System Administrator" and highlight it.

8. On the right, highlight "AuthenticationAuthority" and hit the - (minus) button at the bottom to delete it.

9. Click the "Save" button at the bottom.

10. At the top of the screen on the Directory Utility menu click the "Edit" option and click "Enable Root User". It will prompt you to enter a new root password again.

Once you enable the root user again it will recreate the AuthenticationAuthority entry that you deleted. Everything should be fixed now and you should be able to login as the root user again.

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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.