Can't delete new Admin user after installing Maverick???

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Level 1

15 points

Can't delete new Admin user after installing Maverick???

I installed Maverick over Lion on my MacBook Air 2011. After doing so I went through all the inital setup questions etc and then at the end froze. So I did it again creating a 3rd Admin user profile. It worked that time. I was able to delete the 3rd user Admin but am not able to delete the new one I made when I installed Maverick as that new Admin user is greyed out. The reason I want to do this is that all my files I added to my MBA are in my original Admin user profile from when I originally got the MBA Christmas 2011. There is nothing devastating that I will lose if I cannot keep the original Admin user profile but it will save time if I can revert to it and delete the new one I created when installing Maverick. How can I achieve this?

MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Dec 14, 2013 7:19 AM

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Answer 1

CynicChick Author

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15 points

Dec 14, 2013 7:23 AM in response to CynicChick

Oh, and I just want to add that I have tried logging into each of the 2 Admin user profiles and neither one will allow me to delete the other. So I am stumped???

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Answer 2

madrich

Level 1

124 points

Dec 14, 2013 7:30 AM in response to CynicChick

While you are logged in as Administrator A you should be able to delete Administrator B, or anyother Adminstrator. However, you cannot delete Adminstrator A when you are logged in as Administrator A.

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Answer 3

CynicChick Author

Level 1

15 points

Dec 14, 2013 9:52 AM in response to madrich

You would think so. I tried it. Wouldn't allow me. It started to as if it was working then said something like account could not be deleted due to an error but did not give an error code. Now I have changed my old original Admin user profile to "standard" user profile and logged into the new one I set up when I installed Maverick. Even after I "click the lock to make changes" and put in my password so that I am able to make changes the old Admin which is now a standard user profile is greyed out and I cannot delete. I do not know what to try now. I have so far exhausted everything I could think of to do including what you suggested above madrich which I had already tried. Thanks for trying to help!

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Answer 4

madrich

Level 1

124 points

Dec 14, 2013 12:24 PM in response to CynicChick

The only idea I have now is for you to do another Mavericks install but a clean one. I think when you installed Mavericks over Lion something got corrupted.

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Answer 5

CynicChick Author

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Dec 14, 2013 1:15 PM in response to madrich

How do I do a "clean" install of Mavericks? I have heard of it but don't know how.

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Answer 6

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Dec 14, 2013 1:28 PM in response to CynicChick

Other than being unable to remove the 'new' admin account - are there any problems in using the 'original' one ?.

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Answer 7

madrich

Level 1

124 points

Dec 14, 2013 1:49 PM in response to CynicChick

Research here in the forum how to erase your disk and install OSX. If you did not keep a copy of Mavericks on USB, you will need to down load again from the Apple App store (free).

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Answer 8

CynicChick Author

Level 1

15 points

Dec 14, 2013 1:52 PM in response to andyBall_uk

andyBall_uk no there doesn't seem to be any problems using the original user profile which I changed from being 'admin' to being 'standard'.

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Answer 9

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Dec 14, 2013 2:14 PM in response to CynicChick

Change it back to Admin, then see if you can use Directory Utility to delete the unwanted user, after logging out of it & into the 'original' or any other account.

Open System Preferences - Users & Groups

Click the lock at bottom left & unlock it with an admin name/password.

Click ‘Login Options’ above the lock; then ‘Network Account Server : Join’

In the small window that opens - choose ‘Open Directory Utility’

( or open it directly : /System/Library/CoreServices/Directory Utility )

Click the lock at bottom left of Directory Utility & authenticate as an admin.

Click 'Directory Editor’, then select the user that you want to remove in the left pane & click the - button at the bottom. Double-check that you are deleting the right user, then confirm the delete.

Reboot afterwards, then remove the deleted user's home folder.

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Answer 10

CynicChick Author

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15 points

Dec 14, 2013 2:57 PM in response to andyBall_uk

andyBall_uk I followed your instructions right up to clicking the - (minus) sign but it is greyed out. Any ideas?

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Answer 11

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Dec 14, 2013 3:04 PM in response to CynicChick

>>Any ideas?

Are all the other users available to delete ?

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Answer 12

CynicChick Author

Level 1

15 points

Dec 14, 2013 3:10 PM in response to CynicChick

Oh another thing I just thought of. Both the old admin profile and the new admin profile have the same password. Could that be the problem?

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Answer 13

CynicChick Author

Level 1

15 points

Dec 14, 2013 3:16 PM in response to andyBall_uk

No I can't click on the minus sign to delete any of the 3 users. And btw I changed the pw for Account #1. So the passwords are different.

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Answer 14

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Dec 14, 2013 3:18 PM in response to CynicChick

>>the old admin profile and the new admin profile have the same password. Could that be the problem?

No.

In directory utility I am able to click the - button for any user, even that currently logged in, & the original & only admin user. Not that you'd want to do that, of course.

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Answer 15

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Dec 14, 2013 3:21 PM in response to CynicChick

Ok, is the - sign available for any of the many users listed there ?. (don't delete anything). If not, you did unlock first, and can see that you are authenticated as root ?.

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