I restored my Macbook Pro and now I can't log in as Admin - it says there is an error with FileVault and I don't have access - plz help! thank you.

I had to restore my Macbook Pro from Time Capsule yesterday and now when I go to log in as my usual Admin, it says there is a FileVault error and my access is denied. I created another temporary Admin acct, but everything I had on my desktop, etc is "gone" I can look up the "drive' or wahtever it's called, but I can't access any of it. All I want to do is log back in as my usual self (the regular Admin) - plz help! Thanks. p.s. I"m (obviously) not that computer savvy!

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Apr 1, 2013 6:12 AM

Reply
5 replies

Apr 1, 2013 5:50 PM in response to Linc Davis

Hi Linc,

I am using the Time Capsule. Problem is, yesterday I "restored" my computer from a Time Capsule backup and when everything came back up, I tried to log in as Admin and it said there was a FileVault error. I made another "temporary" admin acct and can log in but all my files from the original Admin are missing and not even showing up anywhere on the computer.


I was told it was because I set up the original Admin in 10.6, but now I'm running 10.8.3 and it's a different File Vault? Also, Time Machine is now only allowing me to access backups SINCE the restore ...


Thanks for any help!

Apr 1, 2013 6:11 PM in response to Sodie333

Triple-click the line below to select it:

/System/Library/CoreServices/Directory Utility.app

Rght-click or control-click the highlighted text and select

Services Open

from the contextual menu.* The application Directory Utility will open.

In the Directory Utility window, click the lock icon and authenticate. Select the Directory Editor tool in the toolbar. Select Users from the Viewing menu in the toolbar, if not already selected. Select the affected user account in the list. On the right is a list of properties and values. Select the property "HomeDirectory" and delete it by clicking the minus-sign icon directly below the property list. There are two such icons in the window. You want the one on the right, not the one on the left.

CAUTION: Do not click the minus-sign icon on the left, below the user list.

Then click the Save button in the lower right corner of the window. Quit Directory Utility.

CAUTION: There is no "undo" in Directory Utility. If you make a mistake and delete something in the Directory Editor that should not have been deleted, restore your whole system from a backup and start over. I have no other help to offer in that case.

Try again to log in as the affected user. If you can log in, you should find a file in the home folder with the name of the user and the filename extension "sparseimage" or "sparsebundle". Double-click that file. A disk image should open. Copy your files from that disk image to restore them.

I strongly suggest that you deactivate legacy FileVault in the Security & Privacy preference pane, then log out and log back in. Consider activating FileVault 2 if you want that kind of security.

*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C). Open a TextEdit window and paste into it (command-V). Select the line you just pasted and continue as above.

Apr 1, 2013 6:24 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thank you, Linc


Earlier today at the Apple store, they deleted my original Admin form the System Preferences/Users, then added the user again with the same name. Is this the one I should use? I'm able to log in with that user now, but all the original files that were linked to the original Admin are stil missing..should I go ahead anyway with the above instructions? BTW there is only a "NSFHomeDirectory" - is that the one I should delete?


Thank you again so much for your assistance!

Apr 1, 2013 7:02 PM in response to Sodie333

If you can now log in, don't follow the instructions in my last message. Follow instead the instructions linked below to access the snapshots of your startup volume that were made before you erased it:


I can't see backups for a disk/partition that's no longer connected


Find the most recent snapshot of the disk image file in your home folder and restore it -- preferably to a different location on an external hard drive, if you have one available. Then double-click the file to mount it and copy the files to your home folder.

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.

I restored my Macbook Pro and now I can't log in as Admin - it says there is an error with FileVault and I don't have access - plz help! thank you.

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.