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General discussion

DON'T DO THIS !!!

Oct 24, 2005 1:23AM PDT

Funny story... I thought it would be cool to set up separate accounts for the other people in the house to use my iBook so After creating 2 more user accounts I noticed a conflict with user names. Rather than argue with a 12 year old I decided to change my own users name... the process I used was to simply rename my own user folder.

DON'T DO THIS !!!

I discovered the hard way that this creates a new account and completely clears the original information (files, pictures, preferences) And moved it into a hidden users account folder. After following the old axiom of "when in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout" I realized that I should be smarter than the machine and calmed back down. I found the new folder and simply dragged the old library preferences and other missing files back into the old user folder while deleting the new settings and everything seemingly is back to the previous status quo.

Or is it ? Thats my question... the desktop looks like it originally did but is it ?

iBook 12 inch G4 1.2 ghz - 10.3.9

grim

BTW... apples site says "DON'T DO THAT"... at least not with 10.3 or lower. 10.4 is supposed to be easier to rename but still has certain steps you need to follow to do it correctly... another reason to upgrade when I find time.

Discussion is locked

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Don't Do This
Oct 24, 2005 3:53PM PDT

Grim,
Did this with my server and I cannot get back in with my password. OS 10.2.3
The icon just shudders at me. Don't you hate it!?
Ouch!!!

-Kevin

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Server
Oct 24, 2005 9:47PM PDT

Do you really have a server or just a machine that you refer to as The Server?

P

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Do you require password to...
Oct 25, 2005 1:50AM PDT

even get into the desktop Kevin? If not then your original "Library" with all your settings should be waiting for you inside of the users folder in the "macintosh HD" icon in the finder or desktop (at least on 10.3... I never used 10.2).

You will find a folder that doesn't show up in the users screen that is named with the title you attempted to change to. Pull it out of the users folder onto your desktop. Open this up and you should find all your original settings and as I said... if you can drag your old library folder contents to the current admin folder (remember to pull it's contents out but save them on a desktop folder just to be safe). Peter is much more knowledgeable re: these matters so check with him or a reputable tech before doing this...I may have just told you how to destroy your hard drive instead of fixing it ! LOL. Should you need the password to access your desktop then you may be SOL. Again, I'm no expert (obviously, since I did this to begin with). I just posted this as a warning to any adventurous souls out there so as to avoid my amusing little predicament.

grim

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Do you require password
Nov 8, 2005 1:03PM PST

Grim, Lost track of the discussion. Sorry, my mistake.
Thanks for the good info. Will be doing a clean-install with a new IT person finally this Sunday, Nov. 13th. Been waiting for a while to do this.
Repartition the hard drive and do a clean install? Me?
ForGETTTIIITTT! Let the experts and pros do that.

Hope school is going well for you. Let us know more.
Must be interesting to share information with your fellow students knowing that you could write a book on computer subjects. How does the Prof. view you getting back to school? That, I would like to know!
Does he call on you for your expertise? Do the students call on you for advice? I would if I were a student. Do they have any knowledge of your background?

-Kevin Smith