"...to become the leader in providing faster, friendlier, and more affordable subscription-based computer support services."

Ask Dr.Tech solution database


Administrator user changes to standard (Mac OS X 10.5)

Thursday, 13 May 2010 09:06 by Davian

Symptoms

After performing an upgrade installation (the default type) of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, an administrator account may change to a standard one.

Resolution

  1. Start from your Mac OS X 10.5 Install DVD. (You do not need to install Leopard again.)
  2. From the Utilities menu, choose Reset Password (do not choose Firmware Password Utility).
  3. Follow the onscreen instructions to reset the root password (the root account is not the same as your account). Specifically: Select the name of the drive that Mac OS X is installed on, select the user named "System Administrator (root)" from the pop-up menu, type the password in the first field, re-enter the password in the second field, then click the Save button.
  4. Restart from your Mac OS X Leopard volume.
  5. When the login window appears, select "Other..." and log in as the root user using the password that was created above.  Note: If Mac OS X automatically logs in, choose Log Out (name) from the Apple menu to get to the login window.
  6. Go to Accounts preferences and check (enable) "Allow user to administer this computer" for the affected user.

    Screen shot 2010-05-13 at 10.16.26 AM.png

    Screen shot 2010-05-13 at 10.19.40 AM.png

  7. From the Apple menu, choose Log Out root....

    Screen shot 2010-05-13 at 10.24.04 AM.png

  8. Log in as the user account that had this issue. (Your account should now have administrator access.)
  9. Use Directory Utility to disable the root user via Directory Utility's Edit menu. You may need to click the lock icon first.

 

 

 


Sign up now - $98.00 annual plan
Also available plans: 15 day money back guarantee
per-incident $37.00
month to month* $47.00
* Plans include unlimited number of support incidents

A “must-have” service


Using Ask Dr. Tech is like having your personal technician always at hand *
* for only 26 cents per day