help2233
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: How do I delete Administrator in Users & Groups

I'm giving my MacBook to a family member.  I just upgraded it to El Capitan.

 

I opened System Preferences > Users & Groups > and added my brother as new user and Administrator.  I was unable to remove myself as Administrator, and now I can't shut down computer without getting the warning "Shutting down may cause other users logged into this computer to lose unsaved changes".  If I switch user the same message appears when try to shut down.

 

Help please

MacBook, iOS 8.3

Posted on Jan 23, 2016 4:11 PM

by MrHoffman,Solvedanswer
MrHoffman MrHoffman
Level 6 (15,637 points)
Mac OS X
A:

help2233 wrote:

 

I deauthorized iTunes but really don't want to reformat my computer if there is a way of either signing myself out as a user and/or removing myself.  Possible?

 

Even ignoring the EULA requirements for a reinstallation for the moment, consider that your family member will now have whatever customizations and add-ons and tweaks and tools that are installed, and this can lead to confusion and weirdness, and can lead to apps and tools that are configured for or that are licensed to you or other folks.   It's a whole lot easier for every involved to either start with the family member's existing OS X backups and migrate those to the "new" system, or to wipe the system and reinstall OS X — as the EULA expects — and start with a generic and fresh installation.

Posted on Jan 23, 2016 6:31 PM

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help2233

Q: How do I delete Administrator in Users & Groups

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  • Helpful answers

  • by BobTheFisherman,

    BobTheFisherman BobTheFisherman Jan 25, 2016 11:21 AM in response to help2233
    Level 6 (15,734 points)
    Jan 25, 2016 11:21 AM in response to help2233

    What to do before selling or giving away your Mac - Apple Support

  • by help2233,

    help2233 help2233 Jan 23, 2016 4:45 PM in response to BobTheFisherman
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 23, 2016 4:45 PM in response to BobTheFisherman

    I deauthorized iTunes but really don't want to reformat my computer if there is a way of either signing myself out as a user and/or removing myself.  Possible?

  • by Király,Helpful

    Király Király Jan 25, 2016 11:27 AM in response to help2233
    Level 6 (9,855 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 25, 2016 11:27 AM in response to help2233

    Since 10.7, OS X is only licensed to be transferred to a different owner if it originally came with the computer when it was new. Transferring a copy of OS X that you obtained from the Mac App Store is not allowed.

     

    You can reinstall the original OS that your Mac came with by using Internet Recovery, or if it came with system restore DVDs, by booting from those. This will solve the problem you were asking about and will make the computer all ready for the new owner, who can download and install El Capitan himself for free if he wishes.

  • by MrHoffman,Solvedanswer

    MrHoffman MrHoffman Jan 23, 2016 6:31 PM in response to help2233
    Level 6 (15,637 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 23, 2016 6:31 PM in response to help2233

    help2233 wrote:

     

    I deauthorized iTunes but really don't want to reformat my computer if there is a way of either signing myself out as a user and/or removing myself.  Possible?

     

    Even ignoring the EULA requirements for a reinstallation for the moment, consider that your family member will now have whatever customizations and add-ons and tweaks and tools that are installed, and this can lead to confusion and weirdness, and can lead to apps and tools that are configured for or that are licensed to you or other folks.   It's a whole lot easier for everybody involved to either start with the family member's existing OS X backups and migrate those to the "new" system, or to wipe the system and reinstall OS X — as the EULA expects — and start with a generic and fresh installation.

  • by help2233,

    help2233 help2233 Jan 25, 2016 11:25 AM in response to MrHoffman
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 25, 2016 11:25 AM in response to MrHoffman

    Thank you.  This was helpful information.

  • by help2233,

    help2233 help2233 Jan 25, 2016 11:29 AM in response to Király
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 25, 2016 11:29 AM in response to Király

    Thank you for your answer.