HT2477: Mac Basics: The essentials
Learn about Mac Basics: The essentials
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Helpful answers
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Jun 16, 2013 1:08 PM in response to kenny53by ds store,Two accounts on the machine should look like this minimal, or both are Admin.
If both are "Standard" then there is obviously a problem.
1: Permissions are off, possibly a corrupt System Preference file.
2: There is a Admin account, however it's been (intentionally or by accident) hidden from view.
Do this:
Emergency backup procedure
Drag and drop copy of all your users acounts file folders (music, pictures, documents etc) to a regular external powered drive as soon as possible.
Do not use, setup or trust only TimeMachine at this time. Unmount and Disconnect all external drives once the backup process is completed.
If you have any over 4GB sized files, those won't copy to a standard formatted FAT32/MSDOS drive from the factory, if you need to save these 4GB+ files use another blank/empty drive and use Disk Utility to format it Option GUID format OS X Extended Journaled (or the standard default one for Mac's).
Mac's cannot copy to a NTFS formatted drive. If you intend to use a external drive with a Windows machine, format exFAT on the PC, not on the Mac. (does it wrong)
Formatting a drive will erase all data on the drive or partition selected, so a blank new drive is advised if your not sure yet.
1: Connect a wired keyboard to the iMac, locate the Command/Apple/Windows key and the S key on the keyboard.
2: Restart the iMac and press and hold the two keys down, you will see a black screen with a lot of test scroll by.
3: When it stops, enter these commands and press enter after each.
Type fsck -fy and press enter, it will take a bit to finish
Next type mount -uw / (there is a space before and after -uw) this mounts the drive
Next type ls /Users this will list all the User accounts on the machine
4: Write down what you see and enter it here for us to see.
5: When your done, type exit, restart or reboot and press enter.
Also do #5 and #6 here and others it you need it.
..Step by Step to fix your Mac
Bascially your going to backup all your files as this could be a bigger issues.
Your going to find out what accounts are on the machine.
Your going to repair Disk and User permissions that might have gotten messed up.
If that doesn't fix it, I have a feeling it's a corrpted System Preference file.
