[X4U] Need to promote an account

[lisa c]

If root is already enabled you can try the following to change the root 
password.  Once the root password is changed you can log into the GUI 
as root and then you should be able to promote the account back to 
Admin.  (The following will have you go into single user mode. :) )  (I 
think you can also reset the root password with the system install CD, 
but I've used the information below to reset a password when I did not 
have access to the CD.  As an aside, you can reset the password for any 
account on the box with the following steps as long as you know the 
account's short name)
-lisa c

   Restart the system while holding down "command-s" until you see the 
system scrolling text.  (if you've ever watched a linux or UNIX system 
boot, that is type of information you will see)  The machine is now 
booting into single user mode

    At the Localhost% prompt type:

       /sbin/mount -uw /
       /sbin/SystemStarter

       You will then see various services starting up.

   when you get the localhost% prompt again type:

       passwd root
(if you don't see the localhost% prompt after the services start you 
might have to press return once to get the prompt to appear)

       you will be prompted to type in the new root password twice

       once you have done that type reboot and allow the system to boot 
normally

       you can now login as root using the root password you just set



On Dec 15, 2006, at 5:27 PM, Mark Gibson wrote:

> At 14:16 -0800 15/12/06, Mark Paul wrote:
>> You can check on Netinfo Manager. One option may be to boot from a 
>> System CD and create the account from there.
>>
>> On Dec 15, 2006, at 2:08 PM, Mark Gibson wrote:
>>
>>> At 17:00 -0500 15/12/06, Neil Laubenthal wrote:
>>>> Are there any other admin accounts? If not . . .and if the root 
>>>> account wasn't enabled . . .I don't know of any way to do it.
>>>>
>>>> Might be something sneaky I don't know about though.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Dec 15, 2006, at 02:40, Mark Gibson wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>> A colleague has somehow demoted the admin account on his machine 
>>>>> to merely "standard". Amazingly enough he can now do very little 
>>>>> on the machine. :)
>>>>>
>>>>> I tried creating a new "admin" account but I need an current one 
>>>>> to unlock the padlock.
>>>>>
>>>>> Any ideas on how I can "promote" an existing standard account back 
>>>>> to "Administrative" status?
>>>>>
>>>>> Happy to futz around in the Terminal or single user mode if that's 
>>>>> what's required.
>>>>> --
>>>
>>> No I'm afraid she "demoted" both her own account and the "emergency 
>>> use only" admin account i had setup.
>>>
>>> I think root is enabled (but have forgotten how to check).
>>>
>>> If it is can I "fix" it via the terminal or single user mode?
>
> By "System CD" do you mean a 10.4.x DVD or the System Restore discs 
> that came with the machine, I have both.
>
> Either way what is that procedure (apart from "erase and install")?
> -- 
>
> Regards,
>
> Mark (}-:
> +61 (0)4 1927 7198
> Skype / AIM / iChat: gibsonm1
>
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