Help Topic: Adding a New User Account to a Lab-Provided Mac
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Adding a New User Account to a Lab-Provided Mac
This topic is the first step for the student who has just taken possession of a 2.680 course-provide Mac for use in lab exercises. When the machine is first powered on, it presents a set of user login options. Log in as the administrator, with the password given in class. And then do the following to set up your new user account:
- Open the System Preferences tool by selecting the System Preferences icon in the Dock of applications on the lower part of the window. If you don't know which icon to click, move the mouse over each icon until you see System Preferences. The System Preferences tool may also be launched from the Apple pull-down menu on the very upper left of your screen.
Figure 1.1: The Systems Preferences icon.
- Click on the Users & Groups icon in the System section. Once you have opened the Users & Groups window, click on the "Add Account" button.
- At the top of the window, there is a setting "New Account:" with the default set to "Standard". Click on "Standard" and change this to "Administrtor". You will need admin privileges to install code on the computer.
- You will be prompted for the original administrator password again, enter it.
- Enter your actual name in the "Full Name:" field. In the "Account Name" field, I recommend using your MIT Athena (email) account name. (If you are jsmith@mit.edu, I recommend choosing jsmith as your account name.)
- After the new account is created, log out by pulling down the Apple menu in the upper left corner of the computer screen. Select Log Out.
- Log back in as yourself. You should now have admin privileges to install further software if needed.
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