Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Mac login repeats 2-3 times

Jul 23, 2012 11:21PM PDT

MBP 2010 13" with Snow Leopard (10.6.Cool, automatic updates on.

Since a couple of weeks the login screen from sleep (sleep only, not after restart) repeats the password request before allowing login. The first 'failed' login has to be with the correct password, if I try to skip the 'failed' login by just entering a few random characters, I still have to enter the correct password twice. Somewhat tiring but NBD.

Just now I entered the password twice (the usual 'fail' first), then the login succeeded but the computer went back to sleep. I had to press a key to reawaken it and enter the password a third time to login.

This is a worrying trend - I have seen other posts complaining of complete login failure. Besides it is a nuisance to have to repeatedly enter the same password.

I have tried OnyX and let it give the computer a standard check and clean-up, made no difference (thankfully no new problems either).

Anybody got any ideas? If not, should I consider a PC-style complete re-format and re-installation if the login problem gets too bad?

I'm not worried about being backed up (well that'll tempt fate), I have triple redundancy with SuperDuper, Time Machine and CrashPlan on separate external drives and in the cloud.

Thanks!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Couple of ideas
Jul 24, 2012 12:26AM PDT

Couple of ideas... First, have you tried making a new user account and then seeing if the problems follow to the new account?

Second, programs like Onyx should be left to the professionals. They are intended to be used in very targeted and specific ways, not some kind of shotgun panacea. You are more likely to compound your problems using programs like that, compared to solving them. When you reach a level of technical competence where you understand what each and every setting does, as well as the risk/reward breakdown for that option, then you can consider using such a program, though by that point you probably will find there's little need.

- Collapse -
Re
Jul 27, 2012 9:28PM PDT

Thanks Jimmy,

Good to know OnyX is not for playing around with! I saw no such warnings on the download page, never mind, no harm done.

By chance (as often happens) I discovered the 'reason' for the login problem. Basically, paying attention to the number of blank dots appearing in the password dialog box as I entered the password, I noticed it was one short the first time round, whereas the second time it got the whole password and that's why it wouldn't log in of course! There is one upper case character and this won't register on the first key press, I have to press it twice.

So there is a 'fault' of sorts, only it's something to do with keyboard entry only being half awake (and this time I mean the keyboard, not the keyboard operator!).

Ulric