Ad: Manage updates with the Download App
ie8 fix

Mac OS X forum: Missing Users from Login Dialog

by: louperez--2008 November 16, 2010 11:57 AM PST

Like this

0 people like this thread

Staff pick

Missing Users from Login Dialog

by louperez--2008 - 11/16/10 11:57 AM

Ok here's an odd one. Using my Core2 iMac with no issues after updated to 10.6.5 (Combo Update). Last nite, I logout only to see the Logon Window come up no longer showing any users .. just "Other"? I don't even have "Other" enabled in my Login Preferences?

Making matters worse, no username/password I specify is accepted meaning I cannot logon to the machine. So I do the following:

- Boot to an external startup drive
- run Disk Utility
- the Internal HD does NOT appear on the desktop but does appear in Disk Utility
- Run Repair Disk and Repair Permissions which both make repairs.

Reboot to Internal HD. Still only the "Other" user appears. I haven't had time to do it yet but was going to try booting in Target Disk mode to see if I can access the internal HD.

If not I guess I can just do a clean install and recover from my Time Machine backups. Anyone else seeing this issue? Any other ideas?


Reply
Report offensive post
Email to friend

Missing Users from Login Dialog

by zwolfinger - 11/16/10 7:01 PM

In Reply to: Missing Users from Login Dialog by louperez--2008

I'm having the exact same problem on my 1st generation Mac Mini.

Bump.


Was this reply helpful? (0)   (0)

Staff pick

Reply
Report offensive post
Email to friend

Missing Users from Login Dialog

by zwolfinger - 11/16/10 7:04 PM

In Reply to: Missing Users from Login Dialog by zwolfinger

oops - make that 3rd generation Mac Mini - not 1st....


Was this reply helpful? (0)   (0)

Staff pick

Reply
Report offensive post
Email to friend

Work-around

by zwolfinger - 11/17/10 9:10 AM

In Reply to: Missing Users from Login Dialog by zwolfinger

Based on other threads I'm following on the issue, until a fix is found, you can reinstall Snow Leopard from the DVD, then apply the 10.6.4 combo upgrade and not upgrade to 10.6.5. Should at least get you back up and running.


Was this reply helpful? (0)   (0)

Staff pick

Reply
Report offensive post
Email to friend

Fixed

by louperez--2008 - 11/18/10 7:58 PM

In Reply to: Missing Users from Login Dialog by louperez--2008

Reinstalled Mac OS 10.6 from media:

> Used the same username and password of my previous account
> Upon restart following the reinstall, the machine auto logged on and all my account data and files were intact
> Other user folders were on the HD but the "Accounts" Control Panel only included my account
> I deleted those user folders and recovered them from Time Machine backup which created the accounts also.
> Downloaded Mac OS 10.6.4 Combo update and other Software Updates

I'm staying with 10.6.4 on this machine for a while unless I read about some fix. This must be hardware related this iMac is my oldest Mac. I have 2 other MacBook Pros which are both upgraded to 10.6.5 and they have not experienced this issue (thankfully)!

So overall this was a recoverable situation but annoying and time consuming. Reminded me of the Windows OS horrors of past sad


Was this reply helpful? (0)   (0)

Staff pick

Reply
Report offensive post
Email to friend

(NT) Well done.

by mrmacfixit Moderator - 11/19/10 6:19 AM

In Reply to: Fixed by louperez--2008


Was this reply helpful? (0)   (0)

Staff pick

Reply
Report offensive post
Email to friend

Reset PRAM?

by sturner--2008 - 11/19/10 1:36 PM

In Reply to: Fixed by louperez--2008

There is a possiblity that resetting the PRAM may also help.


Was this reply helpful? (0)   (0)

Staff pick

Reply
Report offensive post
Email to friend

What doesn't always work.

by connectionfailure - 12/8/10 3:49 PM

In Reply to: Missing Users from Login Dialog by louperez--2008

I am in the middle of feeling the pain of this bug right now.
No, it's not a corrupt directory
No, it's not bad permissions
Reinstalling the 10.6.5 combo updater didn't fix it either.


Was this reply helpful? (0)   (0)

Staff pick

Reply
Report offensive post
Email to friend

Then do what the original poster did

by mrmacfixit Moderator - 12/8/10 5:38 PM

In Reply to: What doesn't always work. by connectionfailure

Reinstall the OS, in their case 10.6 from the DVD, and all will work again.

It was only then that they downloaded a combo update.


P


Was this reply helpful? (0)   (0)

Staff pick

Reply
Report offensive post
Email to friend

This fix worked for me, try this

by crissilva - 2/9/11 12:07 AM

In Reply to: Missing Users from Login Dialog by louperez--2008

I had the same problem, no users in login window and just the "Other..." option. Try this:

1. Boot from DVD and open Utilities>Password Reset in the menu bar.
2. In the window select your HD, maybe you'll only see in the available users dropdrown list the "System Administrator (root)". Set a new password for it and save changes. Restart.
3. Login as "root" with the password you've already set.
4. Once you're logged, open System Preferences>Users and recreate the accounts using the same short names you had (you can check it out by browsing the Users folder on HD). A dialog will ask you if you want to use the existing folder for the new account, confirm and create it. Do the same for each user you had.
5. Close "root" session and try logging with the recreated users. Everything must be in place as you left it.
6. (Optionally) Disable root login from Directories Utility.

Good luck!


Was this reply helpful? (1)   (0)

Staff pick

Reply
Report offensive post
Email to friend

worked perfectly!

by edwardphoto - 3/12/11 8:31 AM

In Reply to: This fix worked for me, try this by crissilva

Thx to the above poster! Crissilva


Was this reply helpful? (0)   (0)

Staff pick

Reply
Report offensive post
Email to friend

Forum Icon Legend

  • UnreadUnread
  • ReadRead
  • Locked threadLocked thread
  •   
  •   
  •   
  •   
  •   
  •   
  •   
  • ModeratorModerator
  • CNET StaffCNET Staff
  • Samsung StaffSamsung Staff
  • Norton Authorized Support TeamNorton Authorized Support Team
  • AVG StaffAVG Staff
  • avast! Staffavast! Staff
  • Webroot Support TeamWebroot Support Team
  • Acer Customer Experience TeamAcer Customer Experience Team
  • Windows Outreach TeamWindows Outreach Team
  • DISH staffDISH staff
  • Dell StaffDell Staff
  • Intel StaffIntel Staff
  • QuestionQuestion
  • Resolved questionResolved question
  • General discussionGeneral discussion
  • TipTip
  • Alert or warningAlert or warning
  • PraisePraise
  • RantRant

You are e-mailing the following post: Post Subject

Your e-mail address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the e-mail and in case of transmission error. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose.

Sorry, there was a problem emailing this post. Please try again.

Submit Email Cancel

Thank you. Sent email to

Close

Thank you. Sent email to

Close

You are reporting the following post: Post Subject

If you believe this post is offensive or violates the CNET Forums' Usage policies, you can report it below (this will not automatically remove the post). Once reported, our moderators will be notified and the post will be reviewed.

Offensive: Sexually explicit or offensive language

Spam: Advertisements or commercial links

Disruptive posting: Flaming or offending other users

Illegal activities: Promote cracked software, or other illegal content

Sorry, there was a problem submitting your post. Please try again.

Submit Report Cancel

Your message has been submitted and will be reviewed by our staff. Thank you for helping us maintain CNET's great community.

Close

Your message has been submitted and will be reviewed by our staff. Thank you for helping us maintain CNET's great community.

Close

You are posting a reply to: Post Subject

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. Please refer to the CNET Forums policies for details. All submitted content is subject to CBS Interactive Site Terms of Use.

You are currently tracking this discussion. Click here to manage your tracked discussions.

If you're asking for technical help, please be sure to include all your system info, including operating system, model number, and any other specifics related to the problem. Also please exercise your best judgment when posting in the forums--revealing personal information such as your e-mail address, telephone number, and address is not recommended.

Sorry, there was a problem submitting your post. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem generating the preview. Please try again.

Duplicate posts are not allowed in the forums. Please edit your post and submit again.

Submit Reply Preview Cancel

Thank you, , your post has been submitted.

> Click here to view your post. > Manage your tracked discussions. > Track this discussion. Close

Thank you, , your post has been submitted and will appear on our site shortly.

Close