rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone: No such file or directory

NOTE

In my experience with this, when I booted into recovery mode typing:

rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone

Said the file didn't exist. When I rebooted, the setup screen didn't show. I logged in as the non-admin user, then looked in /var/db and the file DID exist.

Further investigation showed that in recovery mode, / references the OSX Recovery Partition, and not Macintosh HD partition. So if you boot into recovery mode and .AppleSetupDone doesn't exist in /var/db/, and the setup screen still won't show, do the following in recovery mode:

cd /Volumes

ls -l (This will show all volumes)

cd Macintosh\ HD

cd var/db

ls -la (You should now see a .AppleSetupDone file)

rm .AppleSetupDone

After this, reboot and you should see the setup screen.

OK thanks, it appears that at least one essential component is corrupt or was removed from the operating system.

Using your original System Install DVD, reinstall OS X. If a later version of OS X is already installed, you will need to erase your entire system first.

Nothing short of that is likely to resolve it. If you have user account data on the disk and no backup, use another Mac and FireWire Target Disk Mode to archive the existing, corrupt installation so that you can migrate its user data after you reinstall (and subsequently upgrade, if required) OS X.

One last thing to try before resorting to that drastic measure is to restore the .AppleSetupDone file. That ought to skip Setup Assistant, and with any luck at all may restore the normal Login screen. To do that:

touch /var/db/.AppleSetupDone

Type carefully.

I'm having the same problem I factory reset my computer bc i forgot that password now I'm having the same problem it keeps freezing at the select your keyboard prompt it works up until select keyboard comes up I hit continue and that's it nothing else happens can't go back or anything could someone please explain to me what to do and I'd I got to type anything in orbwhat not tell me were to do so I don't know much about computers so so if you could put it in detail that would be awesome thanks and appreciate it

Then the file isn't there.

.AppleSetupDoneis a placeholder that indicates the Mac has been set up with a User account. Its absence indicates OS X should initiate the "new Mac user" setup procedure. If it is not present the Mac is going to proceed with the latter, which will not bypass anything or solve your problem.

... it keeps freezing at the choose keyboard screen.

That needs further explanation. When do you encounter it?

The model Apple portable you have appears to be one build in 2005 and for details

in how to start up from the single-user mode or other details, you'd have to state

what you have, and what you did. Also why you were trying to perform this action..

And if you still have the system software restore install DVD media it shipped with.

Or the last supported OS X version on DVD for the PowerPC processor series...

that would be the Leopard OS X 10.5 retail DVD; to use it as startup disc to test

the hard drive, and perhaps reset or restore a system.

Details about your computer, when it was made, etc are in a Lookup by Serial Number

https://www.powerbookmedic.com/identify-mac-serial.php

The number you posted appears to be this model...

...perhaps a Host will move your posts to a new discussions area separate from earlier content.

Were you trying to start in single user mode, or just get the computer to take a new admin user password?

If you had the correct install-restore media (original grey label DVD that came with PBk, or retail 10.5)

the proper method would be to start the computer with the DVD in the optical drive, and hold the C key

until it loads, then select from the menu items in the Installer, until you see Reset Password; in OS X 10.5

retail media, not gray label from a specific computer, you'd never need to use terminal or single-user.

There may have been an error in your attempt if you made a mistake in the typing; so if you had a

correct line to enter in single-user mode, or copy-pasted the right one, the command may be OK.

http://www.gizmobeast.com/how-tos/macbook-password-resetting-without-cd.html

or this

http://www.macosxtips.co.uk/index_files/reset-lost-os-x-account-password.php

Good luck...! 😐

OK, re-creating the .AppleSetupDone file restored the normal login screen? Is your keyboard working as well?

The reason I am asking is that you may now want to apply the appropriate "Combo" update for whatever OS X version you are using. The installer should not have stalled on the keyboard selection.

when i type in: touch /var/db/.AppleSetupDone

is says: Read-Only file system

is that normal?

but when i reboot it still stays in the setup procedure. And stuck at 'Another question' it just freezes.

I'm having the same problem I factory reset my computer bc i forgot that password now I'm having the same problem it keeps freezing at the select your keyboard prompt it works up until select keyboard comes up I hit continue and that's it nothing else happens can't go back or anything could someone please explain to me what to do and I'd I got to type anything in orbwhat not tell me were to do so I don't know much about computers so so if you could put it in detail that would be awesome thanks and appreciate it

David,

You will never get the quality of help here you deserve by tagging onto another's post, especially one that started nearly three years ago. Also people here tend to be put off by others continuing to repost the same question and ignore those posts.

You need to start your own thread, and also tell us as much about the model and OS of your computer as possible. You do not want us guessing at what Mac you have! Different models have different troubleshooting requirements.

This forum is for Mac notebooks made between 1989 and 2005. Not too many left in service so yours may be newer and need a different forum. Give us all the info you can. If the computer won't start, find its serial number (will be on the case bottom or inside the battery bay if you remove the battery) and plug it into this web page:

http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/

to get it translated into a model name with which we can we can work

Ok sorry about that I'm new to this and didn't notice it was that long ago I apologize my computer is a PowerBook g4 the serial number is W8547DY6SWZ I also don't know how to put my own post..so I factory reset my computer and it goes threw the begging steps but as soon is it gets to the slect keyboard it freezes and won't go any further idk what to do

Did you notice that Heathen819 asked that question in April of 2013-over four years ago, The forum software is deficient in that it seems incapable of identifying and locking old threads. We all have to look at the date of the original post now to avoid mining up old dead threads.