Q: Cannot log in to my iMac

Hello,

"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

Then try a Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.

(Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive.)

If perchance you can't find your install Disc, at least try it from the Safe Boot part onward.

If 10.7.0 or later...

Bootup holding CMD+r, or the Option/alt key to boot from the Restore partition & use Disk Utility from there to Repair the Disk, then Repair Permissions.

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 Utilities from the Installer menu at the 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 the Menubar at top.

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 Reset Password from the Installer menu at the 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 Reset Password.

Reset Password 10.7, 10.8...

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20087723-263/how-to-run-the-password-reset- utility-in-os-x-10.7-lion/

Then Reset your Keychain...

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1544

I have the same problem. I have a brand new MacBook Pro Retina (2013) w/ OSX v10.8.5.  One day I opened the laptop from sleep and was presented with the login screen with the user login acccount icons. The problem is that the mouse works, but the icons don't respond to being clicked on--they appear frozen because when I click on them, nothing happens--no password box, no movement, etc. One of my user accounts doesn't even have a password--meaning that I should just be able to click on it.  Basically, I can't reach the normal desktop of any user.

I read many of the articles in the support forums and tried all of the suggested solutions, such as restarting in safe mode, running the Disk Utilty (ran disk repair and permission repair). But every time I restart the laptop, the same thing happens--I'm stuck on the login screen. Even the shutdown and restart buttons on the bottom (under the user icons) don't respond. The only way my machine will shut off is by holding down the power button.

I don't have a CD or DVD drive, so I can't try that opton mentioned above. When I did the disk verify, it didn't find any problems. When I did the permission repair, the only problem was something in the iTunes folder.

I've read in other forums where someone said that a hanging application icon in the menu bar was the problem, but I can't get logged in, to do anything with running programs.  When I started in safe mode, I assume that minimal programs are started, but still I can't get past the login screen.

When I hold the Option key down upon startup, I can get the OSX Utility menu and I can access the Internet from there, using the Get Help Online icon--so this shows that my mouse, computer, etc are working great otherwise.

I see I have an option to download a copy of OSX, because it tells me that its going to verify "if I'm eligible".  I didn't actually do the download yet, because I was hoping it wasn't necessary, and I don't know if they have a 'repair in place' option, like WIndows has, where it will leave all my accounts, documents and personal settings in place. Maybe someone has this same problem and can help? Thanks!

Here's a solution using your keyboard:

Press & hold both the Control & Option keys, next press the 'up' arrow.  Your user account icon should be highlighted.  Once it is highlighted, press the Return key.

I awoke ready for a big job, sat down with coffee and then encountered the same problem as above.

Your solution is the easiest and fastest mac problem remedy I've ever encountered, was convinced I had a finally come to the end of my macs lifespan, or at least a day of reading thru a million other comments.

thanks again

you are a life saver!

R

I have similar problem but it does not help, still  doesn't respond when Press & hold both the Control & Option keys, next press the 'up' arrow., nothing happens--no password box, no movement at all.

Previously this logon screen does not appear when boot up, it start to appear when I sync my password with icloud.