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I cannot log in to a MAC 10.5.8 and File Vault was NOT turned on.

Dear Mac Experts:


I know that there are many pages of information about using, remembering and managing passwords. I have read most of them.I know the passwords and File Vault was not on. I am working at someone's home on their computer and running their business. The computer is running MAC 10.5.8 and I don't know if it can be updated. The computer had an Admin account and no user accounts. I tried to change this so the compuer would be secure but my client did not want to. When I left yesterday the computer was fine. When I came in today there were a number of apps hanging. I forced quit Firefox and some other apps and logged out an shut down the computer. When I tried to log into the Admin Account which is the main user account I got the error messages below:


Your FileVault-protected home folder did not open and needs to be repaired.

click ok to repair the folder and continue logging in.


I clicked ok


then I got a new error message:


You are unable to log in to the user account "x" at this time because and error occured.


Clicked OK


File Vault was not turned on at anytime that I know of in the last couple of months. I luckily had a guest user set up and logged in as guest. In order to create another Admin account I had to use the password for the initial Admin main user account which unlocked the preferences pane and allowed me to create a new Admin Account.


Checked that FileVault was turned off.


After reading all of your comments and suggestions for the last 2 hours my head is spinning.

I don't know unix or type commands. I don't know where the install discs are.


As the new Admin I went into the keychain files and tried to verify and repair the original Admin's info.


Here is what I got:


Verification started

Checking keychain configuration for Susan F (user ID=501)

Home directory is /Users/suero

Checked login keychain

Error: login keychain not found

Unable to get info for ~/Library/Keychains/login.keychain, reason: No such file or directory

Checked password for ~/Library/Keychains/login.keychain

Unable to verify password for ~/Library/Keychains/login.keychain (-25294)

Unable to read settings for ~/Library/Keychains/login.keychain (-25294)

Checked default keychain

Problems were found; you should choose the Repair option to fix them

Verification failed


Repair started

Checking keychain configuration for Susan F (user ID=501)

Home directory is /Users/suero

Checked login keychain

Error: login keychain not found

Warning: some problems were not fixed

Repair failed



The machine is backed up onto a lacie external hard drive every hour.


In addition, while I was poking around I found the following:


com.apple.kerberos.kdc certificate

not trusted

com.apple.systemdefault certificate

not trusted


Could there be some malware at work? What can I do to get her files, home directory and everything back?

Thank you in advance for your patience with an old OS and a MAC user who does't feel comfortable mucking around under the hood.

Tracy


Message was edited by: TracyCV

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 2.4 Intel Core Duo 2external backup

Posted on Aug 23, 2013 6:54 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Aug 23, 2013 8:40 PM

Hi Tracy,


I don't suspect Malware yet, Id guess Disk corruption or failing Hard Drive with Files not found.


Could be many things, we should start with this...


"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.

60 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Aug 23, 2013 8:40 PM in response to TracyCV

Hi Tracy,


I don't suspect Malware yet, Id guess Disk corruption or failing Hard Drive with Files not found.


Could be many things, we should start with this...


"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.

Aug 24, 2013 12:58 PM in response to BDAqua

Thank you for your quick response unfortunately I had to leave the office. I am back now and have gotten to the Safe Boot login screen which requires the name and password. Should I start with the Admin user that is having the problems or should I use the one I created last night?


I am on my macbook.


I tried the original user and got the error messages. I am now admin and trying the disk repair. Thanks (update)



Also, as long as I am fixing things. I have never used an external back up. Anything I should know if I need it?


thanks.

tracy

Aug 24, 2013 1:38 PM in response to BDAqua

Sorry I am not understanding your reply. The computer does not have that much on it. the lacie is plugged into the computer.


I booted up in Safe Mode, Logged in as Admin. Ran Verify Disk cause Repair was not an active button. The Verify screen says that the MAC appears OK. But it is not. I still cannot get into the User file and unfortunately the people working before me have files stored in the home folder, and in the MAC folders and I find stray files all over:-(


I did a verify disk permissions and got a list but have not hit repair yet........


OK so the permissions are being repaired DONE PERMISSIONS repaired.


then I guess I log out Restart and try to log in as the old ADMIN?


THe LACIE is connected to the firewire port, I found the instructions:-)


If that doesn't work... CAN I log in as the new admin and retore from back up? The computer seems ok as guest and as the new Admin just will not allow me to get the files from the original user. Is this a kluge or am I just moving the old problem to a new user?


I need to move the files to a new user that is not ADMIN anyway and clean the old files up.


BTW, There is 232+ gig on the system and only 147.1gig used. I think that the back up drive has


tracy


Message was edited by: TracyCV

Aug 24, 2013 2:04 PM in response to TracyCV

OK, let's see if I can ge it better this time...


When logged into the admin account that works, in Finder go to root of drive, then users folder, highlight that non-working user's golder & do a Get Info on it, what Rights & owner does it say?


Can you unlock the lock there & add you as Read & Write priviledges? If so click on little gear & choose Apply to enclosed items.

Aug 24, 2013 2:23 PM in response to BDAqua

OK I missed the appt I had so I am still here. Logged in as new Admin, following your last email...


The folder has the red circle with the line across


I got info the folder itself only has read permissions and everyone else has NO access.

I have unloked the lock.


Message was edited by: TracyCV



I changed the read permission on the home folder to read and write and did the same for the new Admin.


Hit apply then......I lock it and see what happens with fingers crossed?

t


Message was edited by: TracyCV

I cannot log in to a MAC 10.5.8 and File Vault was NOT turned on.

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