Login Window Missing?

Question

Login Window Missing?

I have my Mac set to automatically login in to my main profile and admin account which all works fine.

However when I try to log out to let my daughter use her login, the Mac gets as far as showing the default star/universe backdrop, but the box with the user and login field never appears. I can get between user accounts using fast switching, but it means all users have to stay logged in. The minute one user logs out, the star-universe backdrop appears with no login window and the only way round it is to reboot the machine.

Any ideas what I need to do to fix it?

As ever, any thoughts or advice most gratefully accepted.

Mac OS X (10.5.8), 17" iMac PPC G4 1.25 GHz 10.5.8

Posted on Sep 23, 2011 2:58 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

Sep 23, 2011 3:09 PM in response to legolas-woodelf

Hello, I'm thinking it's this...

Delete the file /library/preferences/com.apple.loginwindow.plist and restart. (That's the library at the top level of the drive, not in your home directory).

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Answer 2

Sep 24, 2011 2:50 AM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for the swift reply, Aqua.

I tried your suggestion, but no luck I'm afraid. I then also tried deleting the

/library/preferences/com.apple.loginwindow.plist

and

/library/preferences/com.apple.loginitems.plist

from both the top level library and the primary user library, but still no luck I'm afraid.

Any other thoughts most welcome.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

Sep 24, 2011 10:22 AM in response to legolas-woodelf

Wondering,

If all the above fails, then it appears to be time for a relatively painless Archive & Install, which gives you a new/old OS, but can preserve all your files, pics, music, settings, etc., as long as you have plenty of free disk space and no Disk corruption, and is relatively quick & painless...

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120

Just be sure to select Preserve Users & Settings.

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Answer 4

Sep 25, 2011 10:36 AM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for the response again.

Unfortunately I have an 80MB hard drive and only have around 20MB free. Will that be enough for what sounds like quite a heavy procedure? And how would Time Machine cope with it as this is a Leopard feature I actually use.

I only upgraded the entire OS around a year ago from 10.3.9 to 10.5 (then ran all the online updates to get to 10.5.8). I know a year is an eternity in the computer world, but my Mac get fairly light use and it seems quite quick for things to get corrupted.

But if the disc space I have is enough, then I shall indeed try the Archive and Install procedure.

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

Sep 25, 2011 10:54 AM in response to legolas-woodelf

Well, that should be enough space to accomplish it, but first...

"Try Disk Utility

1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.

2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)

*Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*

3. Click the First Aid tab.

4. Select your Mac OS X volume.

5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

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