OS X 10.5.6 update will not allow me to login

I

imacg5needshelp

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I finally decided to to authorize the OS X update 10.5.6. Upon restart it went to login screen but i noticed my guest account was missing. Trying to login to my main account the screen turned into the default background for leopard, no icons appeared, then screen goes blue and goes back to login screen.

I tried repeatedly to login by restart, by shut down, by unplug the machine but no joy. I can log into one of my other accounts that has admin previledges.

Inside that account I can go to preferences and view my accounts where everything seems fine. The guest account is listed along with all other accounts. Ive tried changing passwords to get backinto main account but still no joy.

When going into finder/accounts the tree for my main account does not give me access permissions to look at or retrieve any of my files from any folder other than applications.

I've got work to do on some of the files and need acess. Anyone have any ideas how to help please advise. What a nightmare. Helpppppppppppp!!!!!
 
Followup:

Ive done repair permissions. No joy.

Ive downloaded the combo update for 10.5.6 and reinstalled by hand. No joy.

Still locked out of primary user.

Still cant access files from that user folder even with admin priviledges as another user.
 
Went back to Disk Utility and ran Verify Disk. It came back with the following errors.

Invalid directory item count.
(it should be 36 instead of 35)

Volume Bit Map needs minor repair

Invalid volume free block count
(it should be 15205840 instead of 15135533)

The volume Macintosh HD needs to be repaired.
Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed.

Utility tells me "if the disk needs repairs, start up from your Mac OS X installation disk and then choose Utilitities>Disk Utility.

Question. If I do a back up on an external hard drive will all the files and folders from the primary account that I can not access now be on the back up and will I be able to transfer those files back into a new account name?

Thanks
 
I . . . think . . . so. . . .

I have demurred in responding since I have not had this problem, and since a few people have it, I expected a Guru to jump in. I think you had a bad update-it did not work--which frelled your volume.

Always good to back up. If you cannot access it on the Ex-HD, you would not have been able to access it on your Int-HD.

First, if you have your disk under File Vault, that can be a problem. Being paranoid--WHO SAID THAT?!--I use to use it until I realized it causes problems when you have an error.

Anyways, after that do, indeed, reboot on your MacOS Installation Disk and see if Disk Utility will repair the problem. If it does not, I would try the Archive and Install to get a clean system but, hopefully, protect your data.

My concern is your data. Once you get that, I would consider doing a Clean Install, then cloning your drive--which makes a bootable copy of "you" so if anything else happens you can "go back."

If that all works--you now have a working happy system with your data intact--consider downloading the ComboUpdates and see if they update you properly.

--J.D.
 
I created a root user and can access all my files thru finder

im creating a temp user for the work i need to do and transfering the required files.

ive started gathering all my files for backup so ill be able to do a fresh install in the next few days.

i think its under control

first generation 20 inch imac. came with tiger and layed leopard on top. first incident of any consequence on the os in 2 1/2 years. i cant think of any pc i ever had that lasted that long without a major malfunction. ... lol

i just hate time machine....cant tame it. ill back it all to an external drive on a sked from now on. to close a call.
 
If you updated over the line--through Software Update--you may have had the problem happen with a "hiccup." Now, I use to use that all of the time, but people HERE recommend downloading the ComboUpdates. I suggest that after you fix everything and want to update.

I agree with TimeMachine--it does not make a bootable clone . . . USELESS!! A lot of people recommend SuperDuper!--just did my update as I type! :)

--J.D.
 
Yep. Updated on line. The damage was done then.

I found an apple support that said to download the combo dmg and reinstall to fix the problem people were having. I downloaded and installed but no joy.

I'm looking at superduper as one of my alternatives.

I'm designing a web page for a special olympics and when I get it finished I think I'll back it all up and reinstall.

Thanks for the info.
 
From reading these pages and a few other Mac fora, there seems to be an issue with downloading a complete update online with this one.

--J.D.
 
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