User session disappears on startup!
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emiliestrg
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emiliestrg Posted messages 13 Status Member -
emiliestrg Posted messages 13 Status Member -
Hello everyone!
After changing the "logic board" (motherboard, I suppose) on my 21" iMac (purchased in 2013) that wouldn't turn on at all, now there is only the guest session available at startup...
I suspect that our main user session has been overwritten!
To analyze the machine (which has also become extremely slow since the repair), I am trying to install Tech Tool but it is asking me to enter the username and password... but nothing works!
We are lost regarding the origins of these problems that seem related.. Do you have a solution?
Thank you in advance for your help!
After changing the "logic board" (motherboard, I suppose) on my 21" iMac (purchased in 2013) that wouldn't turn on at all, now there is only the guest session available at startup...
I suspect that our main user session has been overwritten!
To analyze the machine (which has also become extremely slow since the repair), I am trying to install Tech Tool but it is asking me to enter the username and password... but nothing works!
We are lost regarding the origins of these problems that seem related.. Do you have a solution?
Thank you in advance for your help!
1 answer
Hello,
When a Mac won't turn on at all, it's because the power supply is dead. If the power supply is okay, and the logic board is dead, the Mac will turn on but will be unusable (no display, no login... the hard drive doesn't spin... etc...)
Assuming the logic board has been replaced, and the original hard drive is put back in place, everything will work as before since the hard drive contains the users, applications, etc., and at startup, the system will look for the OS (the system), users, startup preferences, etc., on the hard drive. So, it is important to hope that the original drive has been put back in its place and correctly installed after replacing the logic board.
You need to check in the Apple menu / System Preferences / Users & Groups that the original users still exist...
If necessary, create a new Admin user, see this:
https://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/44961-reinitialiser-un-mot-de-passe-utilisateur-sous-mac-os-x-10-6-et-versions-anterieures-sans-disque-d-installation#methode-alternative
Best regards.
--
Always indicate your system configuration completely - exact model of computer, exact version of OS.
When a Mac won't turn on at all, it's because the power supply is dead. If the power supply is okay, and the logic board is dead, the Mac will turn on but will be unusable (no display, no login... the hard drive doesn't spin... etc...)
Assuming the logic board has been replaced, and the original hard drive is put back in place, everything will work as before since the hard drive contains the users, applications, etc., and at startup, the system will look for the OS (the system), users, startup preferences, etc., on the hard drive. So, it is important to hope that the original drive has been put back in its place and correctly installed after replacing the logic board.
You need to check in the Apple menu / System Preferences / Users & Groups that the original users still exist...
If necessary, create a new Admin user, see this:
https://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/44961-reinitialiser-un-mot-de-passe-utilisateur-sous-mac-os-x-10-6-et-versions-anterieures-sans-disque-d-installation#methode-alternative
Best regards.
--
Always indicate your system configuration completely - exact model of computer, exact version of OS.
Indeed, under "users and groups" > "Current User", there is only the session "guest user" (Enabled, Controlled) visible in the left menu...
Under the sub-menu "Other Users", there is nothing, it's empty.
I will therefore use your link to create a new Admin user and I will get back to you if needed.
Another detail: in the guest user session, when I go to the Apple menu > log out of the guest user, this message appears:
"If you log out, your files will be deleted.
You have logged in as a guest, logging out will delete all files and data placed in the guest user's home folder. These files are unrecoverable."
Could it be that logging out once after this message resulted in the deletion of the main user session?
I started the procedure using your link.
When I type "fsck -fy" and press Enter, the following line appears:
fsck usage : fsck [-fdnypq] [-l number]
localhost:/ root#
and nothing happens...
(Is it serious, doctor?)
Thank you again for your help...!
Try the method indicated above, but without going through the fsck -fy step.
So, do this:
- Start in Single User Mode, meaning holding down the cmd and S keys constantly.
Then:
- Type:
mount -uw /
Press the Enter key
- Type:
rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
- Press the Enter key
- Type:
shutdown -h
- Press the Enter key
- Restart the Mac
After that, the Mac will behave as if no users have ever been created on this Mac, and it should ask for all the usual information to create a first user, and this user will be an Administrator user.
your method worked.
thank you again for your help