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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Deleting Users
RKW - Jul 30, 2005 - 8:32 pm
By ignorance I created an admin user before I created the user that I really wanted. The second user also has admin privileges. I have tried to delete the original user, without success. Is there any way I can delete the original user?
Dick W.
Dick W.
skapp - Jul 30, 2005 - 8:39 pm
Log out of the undesired account and into the user account you wish to retain (being sure it has admin privileges) and delete the undesired account. Be sure you do not have any security options turned on such as File Vault or a Master Password on the account you want to delete.
When you delete the account you will be offered the option to delete immediately or to save the account data. Choose immediate delete if you want to get rid of the account entirely.
When you delete the account you will be offered the option to delete immediately or to save the account data. Choose immediate delete if you want to get rid of the account entirely.
RKW - Jul 31, 2005 - 5:46 am
Steven K.
I had tried that, but find that the second user is visible to the first user, but the first user is not visible to the second, or in tree language a parent may delete an off-spring, but the off-spring may not delete a parent. Or so it seems; the off-spring was able to change the parent's status from Admin to Standard, but even then was not able to delete the parent! I turned off all security features except the one that deals with firmware, but still was unable to remove the user that was created first. (At least I think so.) At least the other user no longer has admin priviliges, but it would be nice to get rid of it altogether.
Dick W.
I had tried that, but find that the second user is visible to the first user, but the first user is not visible to the second, or in tree language a parent may delete an off-spring, but the off-spring may not delete a parent. Or so it seems; the off-spring was able to change the parent's status from Admin to Standard, but even then was not able to delete the parent! I turned off all security features except the one that deals with firmware, but still was unable to remove the user that was created first. (At least I think so.) At least the other user no longer has admin priviliges, but it would be nice to get rid of it altogether.
Dick W.
skapp - Jul 31, 2005 - 1:36 pm
Well, there really isn't a parent-child relationship. I'm curious what error messages/reports have you received? You don't have Fast User Switching enabled, do you?
RKW - Jul 31, 2005 - 8:03 pm
I have had no error messages on the screen at least; there may be something in a log somewhere I suppose. Fast Switching is off in the account I want to keep. Even though this account has Admin priviliges, the Other Account is dim and I can not select it. I will check to see if Fast Switching is off for the account I'd like to delete. If it is on, I will send another reply, so assume it is off.
Dick W.
Dick W.
RKW - Jul 31, 2005 - 8:13 pm
A follow up: When I log on to the account I'd like to delete, I can see the other account, even though I now have only standard priviliges. But when I log on to the account I want to keep, which has Admin privileges, I do not see the other account in the list of Other Accounts. Not sure why or what that means.
Dick W.
Dick W.
skapp - Aug 1, 2005 - 1:40 am
Ya got me, Dick. The only other thing I can suggest at this point is to enable the root user, then log into the root account and see if you can delete the unwanted account. The root user or super user has full control of the computer above even that of an admin user.
RKW - Aug 2, 2005 - 6:35 am
I thought that might be the case, hence my suspicion of parent-child business. The problem is that it is the root user I was hoping to get rid of!. I guess I will leave it there; since I removed the Admin priviliges it will do no harm. And the computer is not where other users would even try to log on.
Thanks for your help, Dick W.
Thanks for your help, Dick W.
skapp - Aug 2, 2005 - 1:15 pm
You didn't mention the account was the root user account. To get rid of it you need to open the NetInfo Manager, unlock, and disable the root user in the Security menu. This will effectively remove the root user.
RKW - Aug 2, 2005 - 2:22 pm
Bingo! I would never have thought of that. There are a bunch of users in the Netinfo list; where do they come from? Are they securitys risks? What are they for?
Thanks for your help, Dick W.
Thanks for your help, Dick W.
skapp - Aug 2, 2005 - 2:35 pm
Don't mess with the NetInfo lists, Dick. All those users are there for a reason. They are used by the operating system or have been created to be used by the admin to set access privileges for certain types of users, like "guest" or "nobody."
You haven't been hacked and there are no security risks.
You haven't been hacked and there are no security risks.
RKW - Aug 2, 2005 - 2:51 pm
Ok; the names on some of them made me think that they were there on purpose. Thanks for your help, I like having only one user at login time.
Dick W.
Dick W.
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