Recover from a deleted Mac OS X root account
Mac OS X is a multi-user operating system, and requires certain accounts to be present even if you are not using them. If you delete your root account, your computer will no longer boot successfully.
Note: We recommend that you never enable the root ("System Administrator") account on Mac OS X. It is the "super user" and is all powerful on the system -- it has access to all folders and files. By default, Apple disables the root account, and it should be left disabled on RIT computers.
Certain processes could not run without a root account on the system. Since it is required to be present (even if it has no password, and is thus disabled), you should leave the account on your computer, and have it disabled.
Enabling the root account gives it a password. When it has a password, it can potentially be exploited ? because a password allows someone to log in with that account, and passwords can be cracked. Therefore, enabling the root account can decrease security on your Mac OS X computer. If you must enable the account for any reason, you should immediately disable it again when you are done with your task.
To recover from this, you will need to reinstall your system software:
- Boot from the most recent Mac OS X CD/DVD you have, so that you can use it to reinstall the operating system. Use the "C" or Option key to select the CD/DVD at startup, and you'll need to enter your Open Firmware password. Use the "Archive and install" process in the Mac OS X installer, and "Preserve user and network settings." Archive and install gives you a new "System" and related folders, and moves your old system software out of the way, retaining it.
- Reboot and again hold down the Option key to choose your startup disk, this time selecting your hard disk. Continue to boot normally and log back into your account.
- Use Software Update in System Preferences to update your system software back to the most current version.
- Carefully move files fromwithin /Previous Systems/Previous System 1/Library up to /Library. Pay particular attention to the contents of the "Application Support" and "Fonts" subfolders, and move subfolders/items from within those folders individually.
Note: Do not just copy the "Library" folder, or the "Application Support" and "Fonts" subfolders, en masse -- otherwise, you will undo the clean system install you accomplished with the "archive and install" feature above.
