Tip: Create an OS X admin user without a disc

Recently, I had to create a new admin user on an older 500mhz Power Mac G4 running OS 10.3.9. Needless to say, there was no 10.3 install discs to be found. What to do? Follow these simple (but powerful) steps.

First, restart the Mac while holding down the Command and “S” keys to start in Single-User Mode. Next, you’ll see the UNIX boot sequence in white text on a black field. Don’t worry, that’s what we expected. At the prompt, type the following commands, hitting “Return” after each.

• mount -uw /
• rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
• shutdown /h now

Please be sure to type these commands exactly as presented here (sans bullets). “rm” is a powerful little command and if the syntax isn’t right, you might unintentionally delete something important. Next, your machine will shut down. Turn it back on and you’ll see the “Welcome to OS X” video, and be prompted through the process of creating a new admin user.

Other users on that machine — including other admin users — will remain intact. This is also a good way to change the password on an older admin account without the disc. Simply follow the same steps and, once you’ve logged in with the new account, change the password on your old account. Then, log in as the old account and delete the new one.

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Mac 101: Four simple ways to make your Mac more efficient

Mac users love their machines for the “ease of use” and “simplicity.” We agree, but completing a few simple steps (free and built-in, mind you), will make things even better.

1. Easy access from the dock

I always drag my hard drive and Applications folder into the dock. No need to minimize windows, invoke Expose or, worst of all, shuffle windows around manually to reach the folder or file you want. Just click to reveal a speedy, hierarchical menu.

2. Learn some keyboard shortcuts

Mouse jockeys will balk, but memorizing even a few keyboard shortcuts will save you much time in the long run. For instance, most web browsers will select the address field with Command - L.

Things get even more fun with the Finder. Shift-Option-D brings up the Desktop Folder. Shift-Option-A presents the Applications folder. Command-M minimizes the frontmost window.

Is the dock in your way? Command-Option-D hides it away, and then calls it back. There are many shortcuts to choose from, but find the four or five that address the tasks you perform most often. Sure, it only takes a second to move from the keyboard to your mouse and back again, but seconds add up.

3. Embrace the menu bar

Several applications offer functionality that can be accessed from the menu bar. For instance, you can set your iChat status and even monitor which of your buddies are online without launching the application.

First, launch iChat and select “Preferences” from the iChat menu. Select “Show status in the menu bar” from the General tab. If someone initiates a chat with you, the application will launch in full and ask if you’d like to receive the invitation.

There are others, of course. Initiate a sync (for MobileMe customers) or Time Machine backup, alter display settings, select a wireless network or check the date and time without exiting the program or project you’re woring on. Many third party applications will let you interact with them via the menu bar as well.

4. Mod your windows

There’s a lot of room for customization in Mac OS X’s Finder windows. For instance, you can easily drag frequently accessed applications, files or folders into the sidebar. I keep AppZapper in the sidebar to quickly eliminate unwanted applications. To remove something from the sidebar, simply drag it out and let go. Poof! It’s gone.

The toolbar at the top of Finder windows is equally flexible. Again, you can drag files, folders or applications up there for one-click access. No more hunting through nested folders.

Change the default icons by right-clicking (or Control-clicking) any neutral space in the toolbar and selecting “Customize toolbar…” from the resulting contextual menu. A sheet will appear with several options. Just drag-and-drop.

Finally, you can keep related files color coded. Simpy right- or Control-click any file or folder and select the color you like under “Label” in the resulting contextual menu.

So there you have it. This list is by no means exahustive, but represents four simple things you can do in fifteen minutes or less to make your Mac more effecient and fun. Best of all, there was nothing additional to buy or install. Happy computing!

Popularity: 4% [?]

Mac 101: Spotlight, your application-launching pal

More Mac 101, our series of tips and tricks for new and returning Mac users. Love it or hate it, Spotlight’s ubiquitous search has changed the Mac OS X experience; quick and (mostly) reliable full-text indexing is now part of the landscape. It’s not just for finding files, however; did you know that Spotlight makes a handy application launcher too?

You can launch most any application by hitting the Spotlight hotkey (⌘-Space by default), then typing the first few letters of the application’s name. Chances are it will be the “top hit” for your search, so go ahead and hit Return or Enter to launch it immediately. This approach doesn’t have the power-user moxie of third-party launchers like QuickSilver, Butler or LaunchBar, but it’s helpful for applications that don’t live in your Dock when you want to reach them quickly.

If you’ve got ideas, suggestions or questions on the Mac 101 front, just let us know below.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Mac 101: Using iChat with AIM Blasts

More Mac 101, our ongoing series of tips and tricks for new and returning Mac users. If you’re an iChat user with a need for immediate attention, AIM Blasts makes it easy to add social networking groups to iChat.

When you want to have a conversation with a group of people, blasts let you IM everyone in your selected group at once, without having to invite them to a special chat room. For example, you might have friend groups, work groups, or, thinking of Scott McNulty, your special D&D buddies. MobileMe users can take advantage of AIM blasts, since all .Mac and MM users are automatically AIM users as well. Just log in to AIM.com as yourname@me.com (or mac.com) — you’ll be able to take advantage of all of AOL’s instant-messaging hospitality.

You don’t set up your blast in iChat. Instead, point your browser at blast.aim.com. There, you’ll be able to invite your friends and establish your new group. All joining and messaging is done from inside iChat itself. Blast groups appear in iChat as a separate group in your Buddies list — scroll down in the buddy list if you have trouble finding your blast groups. It may help to give them names that are distinct from any buddy groups you already have, or perhaps prefix your blast groups with a “B-” to help them stand out.

When setting up your blast group, you decide whether all members or only admins (i.e., you) can send messages and/or invitations. Blast recipients have to accept your invite to be part of a blast group, so you may want to give them a heads-up in advance (especially if your blast group’s name is obscure or edgy).

Popularity: 7% [?]

Mac 101: Protect your data with FileVault

If you use a notebook Mac, then the risks are higher for getting your computer stolen. However, Apple has included a tool to protect your entire home folder (documents, pictures, movies, etc.) right within OS X. FileVault protects your computer against stolen data by encrypting/decrypting your home folder each time you login and logout.

To use FileVault, you must first set a Master Password. This password is a fail-safe if you forget your user login info. However, if you lose both your user login info and the master password, you will not be able to decrypt your home folder and your data (if not backed up in unencrypted form) will be lost forever. To set the master password, navigate to System Preferences > Security > FileVault > Set Master Password.

Once you have the master password set, you will be able to turn on FileVault and begin protecting your data. Click the “Turn on FileVault” button in the FileVault section of the Security preference pane. You will be asked for your master password, and a disclaimer will be displayed explaining the process. Please note that you will not be able to login to your Mac via SMB (Windows file sharing) after turning on FileVault.

FileVault provides a high level of data security, but some applications have a history of incompatibility with the feature; it’s also very important that you have a secure and solid backup strategy if you choose to use FileVault. For best results with Time Machine, make sure that your FV home folder is upgraded to the Leopard image format (if you were using FV under Tiger, you may have to turn it off and back on to convert your home folder) and log out of your account periodically to allow backups to run.

Popularity: 9% [?]