Accounts not available in login window or accounts system preferences.
<p>OS X user accounts have a variety of attributes that determine how the account behaves. For instance, the user and group ID numbers, and paths to the home folder directory are ways the system determines what permissions the account has, and where to st
OS X user accounts have a variety of attributes that determine how the account behaves. For instance, the user and group ID numbers, and paths to the home folder directory are ways the system determines what permissions the account has, and where to store personal information such as account-specific system settings.
There are also account attributes that help the system recognize the accounts, and if they get altered either manually or through some corruption, then the accounts may not be properly handled by the OS.
Apple discussion poster "Koopa4747" writes:
"I have an Account that I'm changing the login name on. Problem is the user folder is there but, the user is not listed in "Accounts". The user is on the list at login. I have tried removing the user folder to no avail."
When OS X creates an account, it stores many of the account-specific settings in a commonly used "plist" XML format. This plist is available in the local accounts database, which is available in a hidden folder at the root of the drive. In most cases where accounts stop behaving as they should, this plist file is somehow either not accessible or does not have the account settings stored properly.
Unfortunately, just deleting and recreating the account in the system preferences (if it shows there) may not fix the problems with the plist file, and the new account may still act oddly. Therefore, removing the file manually (which effectively deletes the account) and then recreating the account may be required.
To do this, log into a separate administrator account and open the terminal. Then enter the following command to remove the plist:
In this command, "SHORTNAME" is the short login name (home folder name) of the account in question. After providing your password and pressing enter the account should be disabled. Then go to the "Accounts" system preferences and create a new account with the same name as the previous one. The system should ask you if you would like to use the current home folder with the same name, and choosing yes should restore the account exactly as it was before the errors.
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