How do I reset my Mac OS X admin root password?

Now the guy knows how to steal the information on the stolen mac. If he did not know the password and the story was true you should of had him do a clean install.

I hadn't thought of that, Macgoog, but on the other hand, if they've ripped off a PowerBook, it's the unit itself, not the data, that's of value. Think eBay.

Further, if they were trying to salvage data, they'd just restart the Powerbook in Firewire Target Mode and connect it to another Mac. Voila. Free access to all the data on the disk and the password is irrelevant.

If you want to protect the data on your PowerBook, set an Open Firmware password using Apple's utility and instructions found at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106482 . Once you do that, someone else will not be able to startup the computer in FireWire target disk mode, or use the "C" key to start from CD or DVD to reinstall. Even following Dave's instructions here, they won't be able to reboot from the Mac OS X installation CD because double-clicking "Install Mac OS X" requires the admin password, which this guy does not have.

The main option at that point would be to take it to a repair center or Apple store to have them open it up and remove the built-in battery to erase non-volatile RAM and therefore reset the Open Firmware password. Some stores may require proof of purchase before doing that as a precaution.

Of course, if you want even more data protection, use FileVault - resetting the admin password will not reset a FileVault password, so the encrypted disk image for that user account would still not be accessible. It would let you reinstall Mac OS X, though, or create new users.

One way to get a screenshot of the install process is to run through the istallation within VMWare or some other virtual machine environment which supports the OS you're trying to write a guide for.

And, BTW, I'm about to use the information posted here to reset the Password on a machine I am supporting at work. It is the *only* Mac in the building, and I have 0 experience supporting Mac. Therefore, I for one truly appreciate the how-to.

I have a similar problem, and tried your solution to the above question. However, when you push "restart", the computer ask's for the administrators password. Any other suggestions? -JAson

It's prompting you for a password on restart? What happens if you just push and hold down the main power button on your Mac itself (on the unit, not the keyboard) for 5-10 seconds, then push it again? Surely that'll restart the computer without a password?

If the reboot is password protected for the install disk, just turn the system off then back on (with the install disk in it of course) and hod the "c" key while the system boots and it will boot from the cd. You can then get the terminal as described above.

If you can't easily get a screenshot, consider just taking a photo of the screen with a digital camera.

Hi! I have also tried your answer. However when I put in the MAC OS X CD and double click the installer icon, it automatically launches "Classic Environment satrting from 'Macintosh HD'"
Then it says "This App. doesn't run in the classic environment. To insatll MAC OS X start from the disc."
So I continue to follow directions.....and whatd'ya know? I can't get the regular set of choices on the menu bar i click clear through up untill it says install!(probably from booting from disc).
PLEASE HELP!!

Hi Lori, that's because you need to RESTART the computer with the install disk in your Mac. :-)

Put in the CD, then choose Restart. Then push down and hold down the 'c' key until you see it's launched the installer.

Good luck!

Great, and thanks!
I join in on that this was a great hint. I had to do a fresh install due to problems saving documents and Finder (it kept thinking the bastard) - and out of the blue I found out that the new installation had made me a password! As this is a homemac I HAD NEVER APPLIED A PASSWORD before.

Great tip. Bet pro's had known this anyway.

Stian

OK, a friend has a mac that was set up for her by a psychopath who won't tell her what the root password is. She also has none of the install disks for the OS.

Will disconnecting the battery and resetting the NVRAM wipe out the password that he has set?

Installed Tiger (clean install), restored apps, files (not System), etc from a Firewire HD backup using Carbon Copy Cloner. On re-start, I'm asked for username and password - which I know (!!!) - and they're rejected. Attempt to reset password as you describe above, but the computer's system is greyed and doesn't respond (I'm booting from the firewire hard drive). Any suggestions this side of slashing wrists?

That's an odd one. J. Could you reboot and get into the system *before* you restored the apps, etc., from the CarbonCopy backup? That is, did you find that the install worked, but the restore caused things to get messed up?

"...did you find that the install worked, but the restore caused things to get messed up?" Yup. That's what I found. I suspect I'll have to start again from the clean install and reinstall all software and files from scratch; which is a serious pain. What I don't understand is how the login info. is being corrupted (I assume that's what's happening).

I just wanted to say thanks. Someone gave me a Imac that they had in the back of there truck. I tried to boot it and it works, Its cracked a bit but it seem to be ok. So anyway it was locked and I had lost contact with him but the tip given above has helped me reset it to my new password. Thanks!

I have a powermac G4 AGP graphics that I bought used from this guy off craigslist.....It had a clean install of OSX Tiger on it....I change the administrator password to my username and password and I use it that day then shut it off.....the next day I go into the computer to change my preferences and the username and password dont work anymore....neither does his....I look at my account and i dont have administrator priveleges anymore....I try to use the install disc to change the password but when i restart holding "c" i get a folder with a "?" and the MAC face in it....I need major help. please!!!!!

Thanks for posting this, folks.

I'm a complete Mac newbie and I wanted to install Tiger but did not know the admin password.

I'm rolling again thanks to your expert help.

I'm in a simular situation to most peps above. trying to reset the admin pass. For some reason when i give it the C during boot it'll show a mac logo w/pin wheel bars, then go to a "Prohibitory Sign" (circle with slash like in no smoking) and then just sit there. I've reset the NVRAM, PRAM all of that, but nothing seems to work. Any ideas?

Ok, the no smoking sign means that your bootx file is either corrupt or needs to be replaced by another Mac using Firewire. Also, I don't know where you guys come up with the key to getting into an Apple computer is the CD!!!

Please, come on now, all you need is nothing: OK, restart your computer, hold down Command-S and type in the following:

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

Once you've done that the computer reboots and ask you to set up an admin password. From there you just change all other account passwords in the account preferences!!

So who said you needed a CD?

does that work ^^?

Hi Dave,

Is it possible to reset the admin password by using the single-user mode for Tiger 10.4?

Thank you.

I followed JoseAranda steps and it worked. Walked me through the setup and I created a new account.

restart your computer, hold down Command-S and type in the following:

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

I just wanted to tell you your website is the bomb. I went to the apple store only to be told i needed to buy new software and a whole bunch of other crap. I need the reset with the command s setup and my powerbook g4 is working beautifully. Thanks and keep up the great webpage.

Um, I have recieved a Macbook from my school. Its pretty locked down(Region code not enabled,Disabled Dashboard,Itunes music store diabled, Cant install software)I have found a workaround enabling dashboard in the terminal wich was also blocked and using mondo dock to lauch .dmgs and programs. But me and my friend are trying desperatly to find the admin password...we havnt found it, its near inpossible. I can't even reset it. They have an Open firmware password. Every boot combination under the sun is blocked. my friends doesnt have a firmware password so hes pretty much taken care of. But for me i have to figure out where the built in battery is on the new macbooks so i can reset the Nvram. I ruled out the possibilty of going to the nearest Mac store becuase they definitly wouldnt help me becuse i lack proof of purchase and the fact that my School district has embossed them with their logo and information. I dont plan on doinig anything malicous except for reseting the Nvram. I only want to install Reason and Photoshop witch need Admin Privilidges even with the workaround.
Please Help.

I followed JoseAranda steps and it worked. Walked me through the setup and I created a new account.

Perfect Solution !!

tx

Hi !

I'm just a happy new owner of an Ibook that I've just bought on Ebay. I've always been under Windows and Linux system and wanted to give a try to Mac environment.

The ibook I bought is running MAC OS X. When started the laptop asked me for a login and a password.

That's when I discovered dave's tip and arrived in that page.

I have, apparently, a major problem running CD's on boot (I tried booting panther and Ubuntu linux). After holding 'option' I could see those Cds on Boot but for some reasons I got stuck on this window whether I click on the right arrow or not. Starting the computer with 'C' doesn't make any effects. Broken CDrom ?

Anyway, I tried JoseAranda's method. Everyting went fine until I boot again. This time I could see written 'my_name' 's computer which indicated me that everything's all right.

However Even though I did it about 10 times, this windows keeps refusing my login / password.
No error messages of any sort written. But just the window vibrating and blanking the password box.

Now I hope, you guys, can seriously help me on this. I'm totally desesperating and start considering throwing my brand new Mac on the trash !

I am new to mac, and i got the same problem. After reading JoseAranda post, i tried it. But it won't work. After restart, i press "S" But it doesn't do anything. I don't know where is the key "Command" on my keyboard. I am usingn IBookG4.
Please show me where is the key "command" on my keyboard (where is that near by). Thank you very much.

The command key is the apple.

if i forgot my admin password and i need to reset it to upgrade my os from 10.1.5 to 10.3, will resetting it erase all my stuff on my HD?? thanks

Dookie, no, you'll be fine as long as you do the password reset NOT AN OPERATING SYSTEM INSTALL. The difference is pretty obvious. :-)

Hey, I'm just wondering about the command JoseAranda gave us.

What does it do? Does it reset the password? If it does, where do you put in a new one?

Please help.

I also tried JoseAranda's method and it didn't work for me. Upon restart, I hit command+S and enter the code as written and nothing changes upon rebooting. Are there spaces in the first and second lines?

Yes.

If I can't get JoseAranda's method to work for me, is there anything else I can do other than buy a new copy of OS X?

The most sure way to reset a mac password is from the singe user prompt. Restart the mac, holding down cmd-s. This will take you to a single user prompt. type "/etc/rc" and hit return. A bunch of text will flash by. To reset a password, type "passwd " and press return. Enter a new password. The system will prompt you to enter it again. Type "exit" to leave single user mode and return to a graphical environment.

I went through all the steps regarding this post and when I get to the Password Reset window the drive I am trying to access is grayed out and won't allow access.

I suspect the BootX document is corrupted. I was working on the PBG4 550 all day using this drive (firewire) as startup disk.

System crashed while adding cover art in itunes.

When restarting username and password prompt appeared which is not usual. Then my username and password was rejected.

I know they are correct, but it won't take it.

Also tried repairing permissions several times and different things came up but were all repaired.

Help!

Thanks in advance, Richard Carron

just bought a powerbook g4 at a yardsale. all it came with was a powersupply and the unit itself. at start up it has a username already but what i cant figure out is the password. Not really intersted in buying new software. the pc is for my wife. not much into mac but it was cheap. is there a way to change or bypass the password. im gonna erase all the info on there anyway. the pc was used for a english major college student anyway. I tried to ask the original owners for the password. and the son has forgotten it so im in need of a little help.

can anyone help a newbie on the mac i have been given a g4 powermac but i cant find out the admin password i tried JoseAranda post but all that said is no such file or directory, so i tried the post by Dave but it said permission denied, i have also taken out the battery but still nothing can anyone help so that i can give it my own admin name and password, i have also asked my friend who gave it me but he cant remember it so iam completly stuck.

Cameron wrote:
Um, I have recieved a Macbook from my school. Its pretty locked down ... me and my friend are trying desperatly to find the admin password.They have an Open firmware password ... my friends doesnt have a firmware password so hes pretty much taken care of.

You ... um, 'received' ... a locked down Macbook from your school?

Cameron continues:
I ruled out the possibilty of going to the nearest Mac store becuase they definitly wouldnt help me becuse i lack proof of purchase and the fact that my School district has embossed them with their logo and information.

OK, lets see ... you have no proof of ownership and apparently can't ask your school's IT administrator to help you reset the password ... for the Mac Book ... you Um, ...'received'.

And we wonder why property taxes are so high.

Funny how many folks who are on this thread who are in similar straits ... that either can't ask, or that the 'previous owners' suddenly forgot their adminstrator's password.

When I get the Dual MDD I purchased on eBay yesterday I will definitely be setting up an OpenFirmware password on the new Mac.

After using OS X disk reset password and reboot my Mac, I got this an text message instead of a Mac log in page, like, "I have no name#"
Can Mac Master help me?

Thankyou! bought an ex-display macbook pro from a shop and the admin pw had been lost - what a lifesaver. If I knew where you drank, I'd send you a pint!

I have a MAC G3 with OS X and used for print and file server with other MACs and somehow one of the user delted "Admin" account.
it has three other accounts. All are standard. can not chnage anything as don't have administrator password. it boots up fine by using one of the three account.
Can I use this method (starting from CD) and create a admin account?
Thanks Please help.
mxarun

Dave, Im desperate. I have a MacBook and Im ready to destroy it. I forgot my administrator password and I did your method of putting in the MacOSX CD. When I come to the screen where it has the restart button, I cant restart it because it asks me for my password!!!!! What should I do now!??

i have an imac g4, the one with the dome shaped (tower)... I followed the instructions for resetting the admin password and it worked fine. But now i go into Itunes and all of my musik is gone!!!! I've tried "add to library..." about a million different times and can't seem to get it all back. The only time I happened to see my musik again is when i opened i tunes from the "Desktop (Mac OS 9) folder, added to library and it all came back. can't seem to get it to work from the Mac OS X Itunes though... Some one please help, i can't afford to loose all my musik, it was like 11 days worth... any info would help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I tried JoseAranda steps (restart your computer, hold down Command-S and type in the following:

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

and it says .applesetupdone file not found
i tried the etc/rc command and it says access denied

I am using a ibook g4 has a password and i would appreciate any help

Davo

I have an IMAC G3 DV. I believe I forgot my password (or became corrupted, don't know :( , but my usual pw does not work anymore).
I have my mac osx disk but pressing C to boot from cd rom does not work. The mac keeps ejecting the cd from the tray, and then boot.
Is there another way to reset the pw or to check if the cdrom is still working?
I tried booting in single user mode, but in that mode my keyboard does not work and I cannot write anything.
I have the root prompt (console), but simply cannot write anything and do the suggested fsck and mount the filesystem!
My keyboard works fine as I can write the (NOT WORKING) password on the macosx login screen, but in single user mode nothing works!
Please help, any help really appreciated. Nearest mac service is 200miles from here!

I found my solution! After resetting pram, nvram, and reset-all in open firmware mode, I was able to boot in single user mode with a working keyboard!
After that, the JoseAranda method worked flawlessy!

....I've my files again, and did not have to format the disc and install from scratch.

I discovered this way my cd-rw does not work anymore :( but I don't use it really often

What is wrong with just loading a terminal and typing:

sudo passwd root

Worked fine for me. You do need the password for an account with admin rights.

I have the same problem as MXARUN. i think my administator was accidentally deleted, because under users it only shows 2 standard accounts. and i have to wait for the apple keyboard i bought to try the jose arunda thing, because i am using an old ell usb keyboard now. i have an imac g3. will the jose arunda thing work?
what should i do if i dont even have an administrator account to begin with? please help!!! THANKS!!!!!

update: i just got the keyboard and tried the jose aranda thing, and it didnt work. /sbin/fsck -y didnt work, i had to add -f to it. then the next line did nothing. no file was found. same for the next line, but of course the reboot line worked, it just rebooted. also /etc/rc did didnt do anything. please help. there is NO administrator on my mac. what could i do without an os x disk to get an administrator back???? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

JoseAranda ...thanks so much..I had this "mac" guy come to My place and delete passwords..the process you gave was hands down the shizznat..
thanks..

Please Help!!!
I've done the JoseAranda method however after I type
reboot (ENTER)
The computer doesn't ask me to set up an admin password.
What shall I do?

yeldar

I tried the Josearanda method and it created a 2nd ADMIN login and password but when I tried to open itunes or iphotos it said that i did not have permission to do so. The next day when i restarted all i got was the apple screen where i am supposed to login but it was blank and it froze. I tried to do the Josearanda thing again and it said that i did not not have permission to do so and then i tried the /etc/rc thing and it wont allow it - I have v10.3.2 but i do not have the install disk - i got a v10.4 install disk and tried to use that after the josearanda thing and it says that this software can not be loaded! HELP!

Dave, I recently bought a refurbished apple mini OS X. Its about an year old. The shop keeper gave me the admin password and that works fine. But he is not aware of the "File Vault" password or the "Master Password". The original owner who sold the mac to the shop keeper is nowhere traceable. Is there a way to reset the Master password or the file vault password. Please advice.

I have a power Mac 4 running OS X. I have not been able to sign on to the Mac for days. It tells me worry password. (I know it is correct), our Admin IT person who put the passwords on the computer no longer works here and did not leave his password. I put in the installer disk held down the C key and it still brings me to the sign on page. It is not letting me boot from the CD. How can I get around this?

please help me to romove the login password on my powerbook g4.it asks for a login password. my friend gave it to me.it can't boot from the cd when i hold the c key

I have a Shoreline School District iMac. I dont wanna mess anything up cuz of the school but how do i get the name and password without a cd or program????

it work for me thnx very much, from new State KOSOVA 2007

i have a powerbook g4 laptop, it was a gift from my ex girl friend. she moved out of the country but wont give me the password. i tried the etc/rc and got permission denied. i also tried the josearanda 1 and it did nothing. please help

sir i have a problem, have just been assign to update a website that the former administrator has refuse to part with the password, the admin password is still with the person, how can how login into admin area to update the website.urgent reply pls

Hi I have a iBook G4 and I just have an account that is non-administrative...in other words i don't have administrative rights

I have a question aboutjosearanda's method. Do you hold command-s and also type the /sbin stuff at the same time????? Or do you hold command-s for a few seconds... and then type all the /sbin stuff

i also have another question... when do you type hold command s and type all the /sbin stuff?
is it when the apple logo shows up and the circular loading bar is there.... or when the username list shows up???

Please Help Quickly Need HELP,
Zonley

REALLYREALLY ANNOYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have an Imac G4, im 15 and not so great with computers. Ive tried everything above at least five times (the install disk method and the josethingywhatsit method and everything) and nothing works for me. I'm either really unlucky (because these things always seem to happen to me) or incredibly stupid.
My main query is with the install disc method. When I am given the option to restart the computer to install, I am asked for the administration password, now if thats not irony I dont know what is!
Help Please :)

zonely nutterfield,
when the tone sounds when the mac starts, hold down cmd-s and dont stop until a black screen and text appears. Type when it stops appearing. Dont rush you have all the time in the world.

Hello, this site is wonderful and as a very new mac user I am thrilled to have it as a resource. However I would like to point out I am in the same situation as Cameron in terms of administrator rights and he sounds very credible (this is all well and good providing you believe I am credible also ;) ). I type in "sudo psswd root" in terminal and 3 rules appear, and the option to type a password. Is this what i'm looking for? And if I proceed is there any danger involved? Thankyou very much for your help. P.S I probably won't even go on to change the password without consulting someone at school, I am just really interested in what will happen and am hoping someone can help me.

Hi all,

Jose's method helped me out. So just let your computer restart. Before it can restart you hold the command+s down

Then you get the black screen with the text, just wait till it is done and then type in the lines he mentioned.

It worked for me!

Thx alot!

Man...Jose...thanks for that info. Helped me out a lot. Was able to get my cousin back into his Powerbook...thanks again.

The information password can be reset with other means. Now any one can hack into a computer.

hi dave i have a powerbook g4 laptop running osx 10.3.9... that have been freezing so i i tried to restore the system and accidently use the os9 restore. now i can only start from a cd because part of osx was eraced... i tried to install os 9 but SHARING IS ON ( two users) hence, there is not enough space for installation.
1 .how can i turn off sharing
2. how do i reinstall osx 10.3.9

respect.

i also tried the JoseAranda commands it it worked great but now i cant get out of the system administrators login.
i choose either logout/restart or shutdown and it doesnt do anything.

i have forced reboot (either holding down power or ctrl+apple+power) and the mac reboots but logs straight back into system admin.

i have deleted the profiles and added a new profile but still no luck.
i have also changed the login options to automatically login as 'new admin account' but still logs straight back in system admin.

Hey Davo I was having the same problem as you but then I realized i wasnt putting a space after rm

but this one reset the password it will just create a new account for you but you can still see the other admin under accounts but I guess it doesnt really matter.

here it is again. THIS REALLY WORKS!!!!

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

again make sure you use space after /fsck then space again after /mount and finally space again after rm then just type reboot [enter] then mac osx will take you to making a new profile prosses.

thanks again JoseAranda.

"sudo passwd root"

Hello, I just bought a titanium powerbook g4 at a yard sale and of course, i do not know the admin password, so i couldnt uninstall some of the stuff that i dont need on this computer....so i found this site and am going to try it, since my cousin has the OSX disc for her ibook, but wanted to know ONE thing....

if i do the whole pasword reset thing with the disc, will i lose all the programs that came with the computer? it has adobe and everything, and i sure as hell wouldnt not like to lose any of those programs..it is the reason why i bought the computer in the first place, for school. any help would be greatly appreciated.

My sister gave me her old iMac since she had just graduated highschool and bought a Macbook Pro for University.
Though just recently my family moved again and any cds that came along with the iMac can't be found. I've tried everything listed but nothing seems to work. Is there anything else that I could try?

PROBLEM WITH PASSWORD RESET FROM REMOTE ADMIN
I'm connecting to server with Mac OS from MacBook - after "sudo passwd root" on server can't login any more with admin user in Remote Desktop - I know all the passwords, but everytime I try to login - login windows keeps refusing my login. No error messages, but just the window vibrating. Someone told me that admin user really is the same root user, and I can't just change password (because of keychain???) Can login by ssh.
Any suggestions? really stuck...

I have almost the exact same problem as described in the original question. The only difference is that there is only one user account so i have no access to the computer whatsoever. Will the Mac OS X boot disk password reset work for this situation as well, or do i absolutly need to get into the computer to run the OS disk?

It is supposed that the keys and the start from the cd works but it does not work I believe that fiware this one blocking the key comand and any form plase help i tired

i dont know wat happend .i did the whole JoseAranda thing on my macbook pro and it takes me to a screen where it asks me what language i want as my default from a list so i click on english and mac os x loads fast then the next screen is just blue and nothing happens can anyone help me please.......

for all of you commenting "sudo passwd root". This is not a true *nix authentication system. What I mean is the login application does not authenticate against /etc/passwd or /etc/shadow. It uses the NETINFO DB. So, "passwd will not work" it will just change the password in /etc/shadow and give the user 2 passwords in two different locations!!!!! you could also just rename the old applesetupdone file instead of removing it. So that upon boot if it does not work for whatever reason, you can at lease rename it back.

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
mv /var/db/.applesetupdone /var/db/.applesetupdone.orig[Enter]
reboot [Enter]

and when you boot backup just change the other admins password to something new and reboot and login as that user. After which it might be best to remove the new admin account.

Single user mode is a solution to reset root password on all unix system. The same as on Mac OS X. The hint is to press Command+S on startup. Then:
# sh /etc/rc , as wrote on screen. Then
# passwd - the standard util to change password. And then
# exit

Don't understand why it is needing to remove /var/db/.applesetupdone

I did that method and the accounts are gone. It takes me to make a new account. but after it asks me to select keyboard layout it freezes. And never continues.

Hi. I'm trying to do a clean erase on my G3 desktop. The machine is currently running OS 9.2 and also has a partition for the Beta version of OSX. I haven't used the computer for several years, and have since forgotten the admin password. I do have the password to my daughter's login (she used it up until a month ago), but it only has standard access. I have all the original disks and manuals, but the computer won't let me reboot from the disk with the "C" command. If I access the install logo from my daughter's login, it runs the re-install for about two minutes then says "Unable to access drive set-up", before stopping the re-installation. Any suggestions short of taking it to a service center?

hi there
my boss bought an imac from someone and doesnt know how to contact him. there is an admin password but when i looked at the hint it said "there is no password". but clearly there is. and i also found there is a "master" password and the hint for it is "always...". so anyways ive tried the install disc trick and it aksed for the password and so i tried to manual restart and when im holding down 'c' it ejects the disc before it loads up the os. I dont know what to do and my boss just keeps saying one thing, "figure it out", so here i am. Can anyone help?

I have an ibook g4 and i tryed the codes upon start up and all it tells me is permission denied is there another way around this? what can i do?

I get the feeling there are a lot of "found, my brother's sister's cousin best friend from work, boss, ex-lover, school gave me computers" that the police would be interested in. Is there no guilt in this group?

To the previous commenter, and a couple of others. Yeah, maybe some of these people aren't legit, but it is possible to actually need this information. Anyone w/ this problem probably WOULD find this article, because it is pretty high up on the google list. I, for one, benefited from this. I bought a used computer in JAPAN, and didn't receive any information from the electronics store that I could understand telling me what the password was. Yes, I could have gone to the store, and spent hours of time and 1,000 yen on train fare, but luckily I didn't need to!

One more thing. For those mentioning a password is required when they click on the installation prompt, try going into System Preferenes, Startup Disk, and select the installation CD. That will work if your whole system isn't locked and you just need to be able to change the admin password.

Okay, the truth on my part is that a friend of my mom's has a son that used to go to some fancy school that lent out iBook G4s. When they moved down here the kid didn't touch the thing for a few months so he forgot the account info. He decided I could have it if I figured out how to get it going. Now that you know I'm not a criminal... pressing apple-S doesn't do anything. I don't have a OSX disc handy so thats no good. Any other ideas?

[QUOTE]"

Ok, the no smoking sign means that your bootx file is either corrupt or needs to be replaced by another Mac using Firewire. Also, I don't know where you guys come up with the key to getting into an Apple computer is the CD!!!

Please, come on now, all you need is nothing: OK, restart your computer, hold down Command-S and type in the following:

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

Once you've done that the computer reboots and ask you to set up an admin password. From there you just change all other account passwords in the account preferences!!

So who said you needed a CD?
Posted by: JoseAranda at September 9, 2006 3:48 AM "[ENDQUOTE]

That post saved my life. wow.

I have not tried Bob's method using single user mode. However, I have it done successfully with JoseAranda's way. One aspect that should have been mentioned is after the reboot, you will be asked to register with Apple as part of the account creation process. Not a bad idea anyway, as in most case, you will be the new owner of the machine.

I tried JoseAranda steps and it worked like a charm on my ibook, thank you very much for that well done job. you deserve alot of props my friend.

I recently bought an old iMac bondi, just like the one I learned graphics on. It had OS X installed, as well as OS 8 and OS 9.2. As I was playing around with it, I got into 8 ok, but when I tried 9.2, I hit the password login screen. The guy I bought it from had bought it from someone else, and didn't know the password.

Not caring about anything on it, I bought OS 10.2, but can't get the machine to boot to the CD, it just keeps going straight to the 9.2 log in screen. I have tried holding the C key, X key, Ctr P R N, and several other combinations. Can anyone help me boot to the CD to format and reinstall 10.2?

I bougth a new macbook for $300. of course it didnt come with the password, of course its stolen, i dont care, i had to buy it for that price. i love the black market.

im going to try the famous jose method, as soon as i buy a power cord. of course it didnt come with the power cord. (because its stolen)

you have to give me a litle credit for telling the truth,

would you have done the same??

Hi,

Thanks to JoseAranda for the tip. The consequence is that a new administrator account is created by running through the setup of MacOS. That means a new AppleId, your address, Internet config etc. No problem. Changing another administrators password is not allowed. So whilst I can update now update my machine ... I can't log back in as who I was. Any tips?

I just wanted to say Thank You! I bought a G5 from someone on Ebay and they would not return my email asking for the Admin Password. So I borrowed a Mac OS X Install disc but it still asked for the password when I hit restart. Holding Command-C during start up gave me weird bad messages. Then I went searching for answers and found your listing and between the JoseAranda method and the single user prompt method I figured it out. Truly not sure what exactly worked but I tried all of it, even resetting everything thru the single user prompt. Not even sure if any of it worked. I ended it up trying to change the password with the old password spot blank and it let me change it. So, everyone might want to make sure the old password isn't blank. Thanks for everything!

i have bought a mac second hand i bought it cause it was a good deal at the time but there is a admin user and pass does anyone know how i can get the install disk i cant find one anywhere

I tried this with an xserve running OS 10.2.8 and it runs server assistant on rebot and will not let me change the password or create a new admin acccount.

Any ideas for this issue?

it worked for me. thanks so much. this is so frustrating but these cites help elucidate almost anything

i need to reset a password on the new imac (running tiger) but when i try the steps above, it asks me for the admin password bfore i can restart and install. help?

I found an old g3 on the side of the street and I'm trying to hack into it. I put an old jaguar disc in and it seemed to have ate it. Now i am arcin around tryin to figure out how to break into it. I was going to make it into a fish bowl, but curiosity has got the best of me. Plus the computer has airport card and a full plate of ram(not sure how much though, decided to leave it put for the time)

I am really just a huge nerd tryin to figure out how to get into it. My jaguar disc was scratched so i dunno why it won't eject, and my tiger disc is DVD which i don't think is compatible with old G3s.

Maybe i'll put it into firewire mode...atleast figure out the admin name that way...

it worked without the cd... i have been dealing with this for over a year and a simple page like this helped me out in minutes THANKs... you have no idea...

I have an imac gs command and s do not work during start up it runs 9.2, and i dont have the cds, i have upgraded the ram sdram already from 128 to 300 something now so i can run 10.4 but i need to get rid of the administrative passwrod first, so what should i do is there a different way for this to occur????? help please!!!!!!!

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

I tried this command also, using "command + s" while booting and it's true...thanks to this forum.

to all,
i need help, the password in admin is already reset,but now i want to install application like zip extractor and the file extention is .zip and where i associate the file? I tried many times but no one can open the file, only the update application should be installed on my ibook.

i trie the Josearanda cmd-S thingie except i can'T get as / in there... the keyboard keys are messed up in that mode

i did what u guys said about adding a new user it worked find but it wont let me delete the first user....or how do completely erase the hard drive with out the disc is that posssible

It seems like the advice your giving isn't accurate, in order to restart the Mac Os X Tiger installation, you MUST enter the administrator password, which, of course we do not know, othewise we wouldn't be on your website right now!
Thansk a lot for your tip !

We have laptops at our school with Mac osx 10.4.9. It has high security on it although I would like to reset the admin password so I can unlock the I-Sight to record my band practicing and concerts. If you could please help me out, I am downloading a osx Cd just for admin reset only but from what I've read it might not work. It is an I-book 2006 may you please help me out?

Thanks Matt

Johnathan Eastman

"There is no password" = spoon

"always..." = remember (??)

Restart your machine while holding down the Command Key (or "Apple Key") and the "S" key. This will start your Mac up in "Single User Mode."

Now it's command line time.** Don't worry, it's just three lines:

#sh /etc/rc
#passwd yourusername
#reboot

If your system stops responding after the first command (sh /etc/rc) just press enter and carry on with the second command

i'd like to know what it means to hold down the main power on the unit and not the keyboard,the unit stands for which part.thx

Hi all, ive been reading a lot of methods in the last 3 days because y run al PC computer repair shop and someone got me a macbook and they dont know the password so i read about the COMMAND+S method and did not work for the computer and i called a cousin who works with macs for help she told me had the same problem but the methods above did not worked either so y read a lot more and discover she had version 10.3 and i found someone named Baxter wrote this..
Reboot and press command + s

EXCLUDE THE QUOTATION MARKS, but make sure to type in the spaces.

First type in: “/sbin/fsck -y�

Followed by: “/sbin/mount -uw /�

Then, type in:

“/usr/libexec/register_mach_bootstrap_servers /etc/mach_init.d�

Next: “cd /var/db/netinfo�

Then: “netinfod -s local�

Followed by: “SystemStarter�

Finally, type: “passwd root�

You’ll be asked to come up with a new password. If you want to change a login’s password, substitute ‘root’ with the username.

After that, type “reboot�

Remember, to EXCLUDE the quotations marks, but type in all the junk inbetween –even the spaces!
this worked for mac os x 10.3

my probles is i dont know a lot about macs and command + s just dont work on this macbook any sugestions would be appreciated

hi, i do have powerbook g4 and i do have mac ox s 10.4 tiger but i can't reset the admistrative password. my dvd rom is not working that's why c key is not useable. it's goes all the time on adminstrative username and password. please help me here. i am from South africa and not a lot of help is available regarding mac system
pl pl help me and givem me some help
thanks in advance.
hussain

Uhm, I was sittin around and i put a disc into my mac and it doesnt read it and on top of that it won't eject what do i do

ok i done the new user thing and i deleted the admin..now i didnt fully delete him i made an image of what the user had on his account. So how do i crack that password?

Thanks Dave your site has helped me out alot.

But I really would like to thank Jose Aranda.
Jose you are the mother fucken Man!!!!!!!!!

I have a similar - but NOT similar - problem. I just installed leopard, and now my admin password doesn't work. I reset it via the CD over and over again, and the system still won't unlock for me, so I cannot make any substantive changes. Also cannot create a new user. Tried logging out and in, no luck. Any thoughts? If someone posts, please email me as well.

Thanks!

I have a G4 with no password . I have tried JoseAranda method but it gives me the following messages.
singleuser boot --fsck not done
root device is mounted read-only
if you want to make modification to files ,
run '/sbin/fsck -y' first and then '/sbin/mount -uw //'
local host :/root#

Then nothing happens and keyboard won't allow me to type anything.
Another Question Will I I be able to install the OS X that came with my Imac on this G4.
Thanks
Pablo

Same thing for me Eric. I switched to Mac two years ago and it's been smooth sailing. Now I upgrade to Leopard and I have spent hours trying to figure out why I can't add a certain printer driver, add software. All because it's asking for a admin password and it won't take it. Uggggg

Brad.

i have a emac running panther and reset the admin pword as per joseArandas method, worked fine, setup new accoung etc. switched the computer off, then next day went back to continue my assignment and im getting the blue screen when starting up, ive tried various methods including the same one from josearanda again, however it says that the .applesetupdone doesnt exist!

I have tried the following steps:
/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

When it then rebooted, I get a screen with an apple in the middle and some groovy music. Then the music fades out and it doesn't do a darn thing. No response from the keyboard, no response from the mouse...nothing. Any thoughts? This is my client's wife's computer. One day when she went to use it, it asked her for a username and password at bootup and it had never done that before. She tried EVERYTHING she could think of and got nowhere. Before I tried the above steps, at least I would see the username password field, now nothing. Help is appreciated, thanks. If someone actually has the answer, I'd be willing to send a little paypal your way. I'd like to get this taken care of for my client. Thanks.

TRYING TO CONNECT MY MACBOOK PRO WITH A DESKTOP G4 VIA 'CONNECT TO SERVER' LINKAGE. Acquaintance showed me how to do this when he was fixing my computer. He must have set the 'server' entry to a password, but I cannot recall it. Now I cannot connect to server. If I go with name, it asks for password. If I go with guest, it doesn't allow me to view any transferred files (says I don't have authority to view them). IS THERE A WAY TO RETRIEVE THE PASSWORD OF 'Connect to Server'? I've already tried my administrative password, but it doesn't work. I've tried checking my Keychain, but it's not listed in there. I've tried every old password I can remember, but no ...... CAN ANY ONE TELL ME HOW TO RESET THE PASSWORD THAT CONNECTS TO SERVER?

I have a PowerBook G4 with Mac OS X 10.3.9. My power adapter died on me like a month ago, and I tried to fix it 100 times, but with no sucess. When I bought new one 3 days ago, a realised i forgot my admin (mine) password. My brother has his acc, but it's not of much use to me. I trided to press S at the beginig but there is no effect, it regulary brings up login window and I can't change anything from this other acc without admin password. please help me...

I forgot to mention that the Time and Date are complitely messed up on the other acc, and also some applications are not working proprerly.

i just used jose's method, and now i am getting the circle with a line through it. What should i do?

Just follow the above commands. Do it over and over and you'll get it right. It took me about 10 times until I got it. It Works! just stick with it. Thank you all sooooo very much!

i have the same problem as bobby does. it does not even turn on, it goes straight to a circle with a slash through it. need help

Thanks soooooo much! Jose's method worked. REMEMBER THERE IS A SPACE AFTER "rm"

This worked great i have a new user and im the new owner of the macbook. Now how do i remove the old user? Not realy needed im installing leopard 10.5 hopefully but just curious..

Thanks for everything EVERY post was beneficial.

P.S. I couldnt install anything because i didnt have the password which is why i used Joses method

I am too locked out of my admin password and for the life of me I can't find the first disk of my install. So I tried your suggestion:

I restarted the computer by holding down Command-S

When It finishes, it does not give me the chance to type a command, because it is asking for a password right there. I can't get past it. After three tries if reboots the computer again. How do I get past this password, is there a default system password that it is expecting???

cmd and s does not work for os 9 help

I have a shcool mac book, u dont need admin acsees to install programs, ok , download a program ctrl click it go to show package contense, go to info.plist open it with text edit hit apple+f
to find type the key word ''ident'' then right under it it should say com.example.program name (example: com.apple.itunes)

ok so change whatever is there to com.apple.calculator

then find a folder on the mac hd were you can read and write place it in the folder and open the program up

wala! poof its magic!

i tryed the mac install disak did every thing
it will not let me change admin password help please

Ok here is the problem, I did the reset password thing and I lost all my network configuration..now is there a way to restore the previous files so I can write them down so I can know them and then change the password...I think this is called restoring? anyone help please I can not connect to the internet

When I enter Single User Mode it asks for a password. None of the keys on my ibook work here except for "enter."(I can log in as a standard account and the keys work.) I have tried a usb Mac keyboard and got the same results. I have also tried resetting the pram and clearing the nvram without success. Any ideas on what's going on?

the password dosent show up, its not supose to, type the pass and hit enter

This may help some peopleJust figured it out after many hours of playing with it. Leopard reset a friends admin username and password when he upgraded. Nothing would work and for some reason we couldnt boot from the installer to get into utilities. We tried everything apple c,s, apple option o-f. Nothing.

It turns out my friend managed to set the open firmare password without realising its implications. Due to that, it wasnt possible to boot into single user mode with command-s. 

It seems to be a problem with some macs that when people upgrade to leopard it resets their admin username and password. Because it does this you have no access to anything.

To access the open firmware password screen, you have to reboot holding down the Alt (option) key.  Then type your password, you will be able to access the leopard disk then, where you go to utilities to reset your admin information.

Hope this helps some poor unfortunate

jose's method really work!
btw i'm using mac and what software u guys use to watch movie?
some file can't open when i use vlc,any comment please
thx

The code below worked for me a treat. After months of trying to get restrictions moved so that I could use the mac book pro G4 to its full capability. I used the instructions below and set up another account where I could put in my personal settings.

Thanks a bunch. Merry Xmas

for all of you commenting "sudo passwd root". This is not a true *nix authentication system. What I mean is the login application does not authenticate against /etc/passwd or /etc/shadow. It uses the NETINFO DB. So, "passwd will not work" it will just change the password in /etc/shadow and give the user 2 passwords in two different locations!!!!! you could also just rename the old applesetupdone file instead of removing it. So that upon boot if it does not work for whatever reason, you can at lease rename it back.

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
mv /var/db/.applesetupdone /var/db/.applesetupdone.orig[Enter]
reboot [Enter]

and when you boot backup just change the other admins password to something new and reboot and login as that user. After which it might be best to remove the new admin account.

Posted by: comonpeople at May 23, 2007 12:39 AM

I'm new to this site That being said, I have a big problem. I recently bought several imac g3's that won't boot up past the osX {unknown version} admin login window. They are snow dv 600 & 500 mhz, grafites 500 mhz and rubies 450 mhz {if it makes a difference}.

HERE IS WHAT I'VE TRIED WITH NO SUCCESS:

1. Pressing the "C" at startup with osx
v 10.2 and v 10.3.5. install cd's.
2. Pressing control-S
2. Holding down the start button for 5 to 10
seconds and pressing it again.

If anybody can help me out I would really welcome it. Thanks

Hello, my dad's old roommate let me borrow his mac osx even though he didn't know his password and he's given me leeway to find a way to get into it without messing up his own files...
i tried this, but the trouble i think is, is that i changed his user password but then i went on to change the system admin Root password as well.
so now the computer turns on and sits there with it's loading bar screen, and won't startup.. any ideas??? please?

I recently bought a used G4 for my son and have the same problem with the password. We havent tried the suggestions yet because we arent using a Apple keyboard so I dont know what COMMAND S is. Does that correlate to something on a standard keyboard??

Hi there Im an owner of an Ibook G3 with MAC OS 10.2.8 ( jaguar.) I recently just purchased new software off ebay to update my computer ( i bought panther and tiger.)

When I first tried downloading panther it says I needed my password, wahoo.

I tried following JoseAranda's post from September 9, 2006 but whenever I restart my ibook and I hold down the apple key and s NOTHING happens.

Suggestions plealse?

I have the same problem as Ritchie above. I have an Apple iMac indigo, but it doesn't have an apple keyboard so I'm having issues figuring out what the command key is. Please help!

I recently bought an Apple iMac G3 indigo at a moving sale and can't even use it. I have never used a Mac and don't know where to begin. As soon as it starts up it goes to 2 user names (no guest account) and you have to enter a password. The problem is I wasn't given any passwords or disks or keyboard for that matter. I tried previous post solutions on here to no end. I don't have an apple keyboard, so the command key is drawing a blank with me. Does anyone have any suggestions? Please help, my kids would like to use the computer.

I recieved a new macbook and the person that gave it to me forgot there password tried the OS installation but only recieved a blank screen, how can I get the password reset for the main administrator?

Hi,
I am trying to do an OS update from 10.38--> 10.4
I put in the CD and it keeps popping out?
What can the problem be?

When you click restart you have to authenticate it with your password....

I just purchased a OS x with Leopard operating system. It is rejecting my administrator password (I'm sure it is correct!). When I follow the instructions to reset the password using the install disc it gives me the message "The password you entered has not been saved for the user system administrator (root). You may not have permission to edit this disc or a general failure has occured.
Please help with ideas as I cannot install any updates or new programs.

I followed the suggestion for resetting passwords using the OSX
Install Disk. I changed all of the passwords inclusding the root.
I now have a new account labeled "other." I lost all of my settings and files. Found them in backup but all of my mail and so on are now gone...Help?

Thanks!!

Hi

Really this forum is very use-full for MAC users.

Thanks
M. Sridhar

Hi, I have the mac os X install CD (tiger) and I do everything you said to do. The part with the picture and the Restart button is where my problem occurs. I click on REstart and it asks for the password that I have yet to reset, someone help please..

Hey, I got a flashing question mark on this system my uncle gave me and learnt it was as a result of an openfrimware password on it. I reset it by using an additional DIMM and it's now bootin to the log-on screen. I dont have the admin password and it wont boot from CD/DVD by pressing C. I also tried the command-S too but didn't work. What can i do?
Very much thanks

My school purchased several Macbooks last year and upon graduation they allowed the students to purchase it for reduced fees, it came with an instruction sheet on how to unblock all the programs they disabled, but i've lost the sheet and cant find it, i try'ed the command-s method but nothing happens they've blocked that as well, i cant download anything, cant afford to buy any cd's for the thing, and i don't know what to do, i'd thank you greatly for some advice on this matter.

I have the same experience as alex. So this reccomendation does not seem to work im our case. What to DO??

hi dave,I have the same problem as lissa posted on 13th 2008 please help? p.s i am not very good on computers

i have a mac book g4 and i have no password no disk and tried rebooting it while pressing command s and tere is nothing that happens the sign in scrren appears again ..... hwta is there to do ...... i dont have any other ideas....

I HAD THE HARDEST TIME RESETING MY PASSWORD... SO HOPEFULLY THIS SOLVES ALL PROBLEMS ABOVE.

I have a new Mac book
Was OS 10.4
Now OS 10.5

This following method does work
-Shutdown your computer
-Power you our computer, and hit the Apple Key and "S" until text appears on the screen.
-There will be a black screen with text, and at the bottom you will see "something something" root
-Enter the text below....
/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

in the 3rd line, MAKE SURE THERE IS A SPACE BETWEEN RM AND THE SLASH... so "rm [SPACE] /var/db/.applesetupdone" this was I couldn't make any changes and it couldn't find the file...

hopefully this helps.

Alloc-mem request too big when I type in mac-boot so computer won't start don't know what to do???

For whatever reason, I couldn't remember the Admin login or password. Reformatting would have been a solution however I never setup Time Machine and wanted to lose as little info as possible.

Using the disk, I had the same ironic problems as others, it wanted the Admin to restart... to reset the Admin!

After many attempts and reading that you have to put a space after "rm" in JoseAranda's solution, I finally got it working.

Thank you for helping with the Admin reset.

I now have an Admin account that I should remember and can use Time Machine for the first time! Doc Brown would be proud.

I was ready to buy a mac os X CD, but i was continuing readding, and i found this with out the CD to reset de admin possword,

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

thakns!!!

OK this is the best resource that I've came across. I even got to delete other peoples accounts that they tried to set up and lost their password. Now I only have one password and no one can go on my laptop.

I tried the whole I have an iBook G4 and it refuses to use fsck -y so i used fsck -f
and followed the other steps. Now i can't log on, it takes me to the setup page and does go beyond the keyboard settings page when it switches on

help me /// I was fooling around w/ security preferences in the get info dialog of the MACINTOSH HD and somehow set it to no access or something of the sort. My mac will not boot now, since its not allowed to use the drive. school projects due monday, need help / used CD, to reset permissions w/ disk utility, didn't work /

i have an imac that i brouht on greg list in the box but i find out it was not that persons now am afraid to use it is there any way around that my brother tells me take it as a lost becouse it is tracsable is ther any way to reboot it and make it mine

Id like to thank JoseAranda for his tutorial:
restart your computer, hold down Command-S and type in the following:

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

I have a don't ask, don't tell policy when i FIX a computer and when I got iMAC G5 (10.0 X) it had several users with passwords on them. I am not to familiar with MAC's, but I know these were "network" logins not locals logins. this works awsome

I bought Imac desktop and Im tring to install Tiger OS sofware and when I try to install it .. I click on the restart but before I can restart it asks me for an Admin password... I tried to create a new account but it wont let me because I need th password to unlock .... what do I do please help

After a lot of tooling around on my G5, I figured out how to do this without the boot disk (provided you can boot, that is)

Do the following:

- shut down
- power up with the and s keys held down
you can let go when you see the text messages scrolling by
- at the command prompt, do the following:

/sbin/fsck -fy (takes a long time, but tells you what its doing)
/sbin/mount -uw /
/sbin/passwd root

Enter in a new password. Enter it in again.

Then type: reboot

I saw some people use the command SystemStarter. This will not work. Also note that the fsck command requires the -f in there to work as well.

Done. :) I now have r00t!!

oops I put the COMMAND key in angle brackets... edit what I said to say this:

power up with the COMMAND and S keys held down

This works on power mac also. Not so much on the G4 with older versions of OSX, 'cos the commands are slightly different.

Hi, i have a macbook. I cant make any changes from modifying my Hardrive to installing new software. It asks me to type in a Administrative user Name and password and i type my ONLY account in and it says it isnt. Then upon going to accounts in System Preferences, it says my ONLY account is a standard acccount and not a administrative. How do I fix this?

i did everything to reset my password, went through the opening and then reloaded but now all i get is a blue screen. help please

my mac g4 every time i restart a black screen with computer name ask for root# where & how to find or enter what #

thanks fa

I want to tell all the people that are unable to reset password if the Darwin Security firmware is enabled. This goes completely agains my will but I do understand the situation.

How to by pass the Admin:

I don't care who you are and everything you try here, with all due respect to Dave, None of it is going to work.

The only thing that will work and I guarantee that it will, Please follow these steps:

1. get an exact macbook from friend with an unlock firmware admin.

2. Make sure that your friend has Admin rights

3. take his hardrive and put it in your mac

4. check if it boots

assuming it will.

5. Clone the Hardrive any way you can (I'm not giving this tip since it's illegal).

6. Give back your friend his hardrive or put the clone on his machine and do a CD install by pressing "C" With Desire OS.

7. You got your MAC Back.

i have a g4 and don't know the admin password- don't need it to start up, just need it when installing- so i tried the solution below, and it created a new acct, but now i can't open the default account bec. it's password protected now, whereas before it was the default acct that opened automatically- all my stuff is still on that! how can i unmake a new account- in other words, how can i reverse the code below so that the admin acct. is the only one and i don't have to use a password to access it?

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

hello! jose aranda method works great, but my computer told me to do it that way:

/sbin/fsck -f [Enter] (not "y" like in original)
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

It would let u added and configure new account

Peace!

I've followed this to the reset disk option. I have two destinations to choose from.

Dest 1: The install CD

Dest 2: The main disk, but it will not allow me to reset the password, everything is greyed out :(

Help would be much appreciated! Thank you for a great article!

I need serious help, ive been trying to figure out my user name and password then after 2 months or so I decided to try it again, so I tryed the jose aranda theory and it rebooted but after I enter my resigtration info, I click continue and it goes to a gray background with a white square in the middle but it won't go any further. I'm getting annoyed n I just want to know what I can do to bypass this so I can get onto my computer without anymore hassles. Please help me out and tell me what I can do, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Hi Dave!

I have a question about my Mac G4 powerbook with OS X.
Last week I noticed my wallpaper was missing so I decided to shut down my computer for the day(I generally put it to sleep). It had been freezing a lot and acting funky.

When I turned it on the screen started up with the usual "loading Mac OS X" bar and then a prompt popped up asking for a name and password.

This is not the usual user name screen that pops up after OS X loads. None of the user names or passwords worked, not even the administrator.

Above this little password prompt has my computer's name and when you click that it cycles through the serial number, OS X and then it says "user's not available" with a little red dot in front of it.

Can you help me?? I would love to buy you a soy chai for your efforts (as I too enjoy soy chai's!)

Many Thanks!
Danielle

Danielle, that's a weird one. I have no idea what's going on and suggest that you might make an appointment and take it in to the Genius at the local Apple Store to see if they can figure it out. Do come back and let us know what's going on if you can?

I have a mac book pro and I don't know the pass word can anyone help me I had tried - shut down
- power up with the and s keys held down
you can let go when you see the text messages scrolling by
- at the command prompt, do the following:

/sbin/fsck -fy (takes a long time, but tells you what its doing)
/sbin/mount -uw /
/sbin/passwd root

Enter in a new password. Enter it in again.
I can reset that password can anyone help me please please

ok.. i know how to re image a computer.

so turn it off
then turn it back on
when the apple comes up hold the h key
now a planet will come up instead of the apple
keep on holding the h key
and then choose leopard in the re image
then restart again!

i dont know how to reset my password for the apple laptop (powerbook g4) need good help

why my mac power G5 reset all programs to original settings, I lost a lot of work done, what can I do to prevent it in the future?
Thanks

Hi there, Dave!

My problem is this; my Installer.app failed to open .pkg files, so I tried using a different program instead, which worked perfectly - until I tried to open up a package file; Admin Password Required.
So I went to my Dad (it's his computer), and asked what the admin password was. Apparently, he'd changed it and forgot what it was since he hadnt used it for quite some time. What to do, I thought.
Well, I'll browse the Internet, of course! And I found this guide, which helped me reset the password, but in doing so erased the Admin Profile (when I went back to try to reset again it said no profiles were found in my harddrive). So, in a state of slight panic, i kept on reading here.
Found my resolve, used the cmd-S method, successfully booted up the moviesequence that welcomes you, filled in the first stages but then... Right after the page where you fill in what you'll use yur computer for and all that, it turns the page only to show a blank page with a black stripe in the middle.
I checked, and it hasn't froze. It just doesn't make any progress. Just sits there, no loading icon or anything.
And it's reaaally annoying since it says it's about the final step of it all...
It's driving me nuts.

Help meh, oh mighty one! :x

Cheers //Axel

"I'd show this menu as a screenshot here, but can't figure out how to get a screenshot of the install process. Sorry!"

Use a digital camera, :-)

PS: Your answer is very helpful!

I have installed the Install Disc One to reinstall the software. I hold the C key down while restarting the computer and during restart, it fails and tells me I need to restart. It will not allow me access to the Installer menu. Is there anything I can do to correct this?

Hello,

I did this:

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

...and now I can't get to the login page at all. I'm stuck at the "Starting Mac OS X" screen. Help, anyone?

The excellent solution by JoseAranda reposted below...only to say I have just used it - Aug 16th 2008. Worked like a dream. Fabulous! Thank you very very much :)

***

Please, come on now, all you need is nothing: OK, restart your computer, hold down Command-S and type in the following:

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

Once you've done that the computer reboots and ask you to set up an admin password. From there you just change all other account passwords in the account preferences!!

So who said you needed a CD?
Posted by: JoseAranda at September 9, 2006 3:48 AM

i'm trying to do what josearanda says but it's not working how do you do it again please somebody help me

Ok I have tried everything on here and nothing works... everytime the new registration starts up it freezes right after it asks me what i will be using my mac for (after the name address all of that part) I also have the CD and can't make it boot of the CD... i am really desperate anyone your help is much appreciated! thanks

i have an brand new apple macbook and need a way to bypass administrative rights, or reset the account. How can i do so?

i was able to change the password but now how do i completely delete the previous owners file(restore)... keep in mind that i dont have a boot disk

I have tried all of the above (execpt PRAM, NVRAM reset) and come to the same conclusion. They don,t work for the MACBOOK that I am attempting to repair for a customer. Before I go back into the cave where is the best place to start on my reset journey?

Most grateful

HELLO DAVE ITS SHAM HERE WANT'S TO ASK IF YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR'S NAME I KNOW THE PASSWORD BUT DON'T KNOW THE ADMINISTRATOR'S NAME WHEN I'M TRYING TO CHANGE SETTINGS IN THE SYSTEM PREFERENCES THE PROGRAM ASKS FOR ADMINISTRATOR'S NAME AND PASSWORD I KNOW THE PASSWORD BUT NOT THE ADMINISTRATOR'S NAME, AND ONE THING MORE LAST TIME WHEN I WAS INSTALLING MAC OS X LEOPARD I SET IT UP FOR A SECURITY WHENEVER MY LAPTOP GET STOLEN AND SOMEONE WILL WANT TO REINSTALL MAC OS X LEOPARD OR WHATEVER THEY WILL HAVE TO PUT PASSWORD TO INSTALL AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT DID I TYPE THAT TIME DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW CAN I SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SHAM.

Hey, I tried to do this but when i hit restart it asks for my password again. I got kicked off my admin account while messing around with my settings, now i cant upgrade my computer at all

What M said words even on leopard unless they have fro some insane reason blocked SUM(Single User Mode). (EX. schools and offices).
I have tried it and it will work and you will have the highest authority on the computer.
The new account will have the highest priority.
So go with that root instead!

jose you are the mother f'n man 2 year old post worked perfectly the very first time your my friend are god like

DJ d

HELLO DAVE ITS SHAM HERE WANT'S TO ASK IF YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR'S NAME I KNOW THE PASSWORD BUT DON'T KNOW THE ADMINISTRATOR'S NAME WHEN I'M TRYING TO CHANGE SETTINGS IN THE SYSTEM PREFERENCES THE PROGRAM ASKS FOR ADMINISTRATOR'S NAME AND PASSWORD I KNOW THE PASSWORD BUT NOT THE ADMINISTRATOR'S NAME, AND ONE THING MORE LAST TIME WHEN I WAS INSTALLING MAC OS X LEOPARD I SET IT UP FOR A SECURITY WHENEVER MY LAPTOP GET STOLEN AND SOMEONE WILL WANT TO REINSTALL MAC OS X LEOPARD OR WHATEVER THEY WILL HAVE TO PUT PASSWORD TO INSTALL AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT DID I TYPE THAT TIME DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW CAN I SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SHAM.

Dear JoseAranda,
I recently purchased an ibook g4
running panther at a secondhand store.
The ibook had an admin password which was not disclosed by the store when I purchased the item and no os disks were supplied.
After I got the laptop home I discovered the os had not been updated in a number of years. And without the password I wasnt able to update it.
Thank you for your advice. With your help I was able to follow the steps you described and create a new account and to update the laptop.

Many thanks
Regards
Andrew

thanks to you Jose, you saved my sanity!

HELLO DAVE ITS SHAM HERE WANT'S TO ASK IF YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR'S NAME I KNOW THE PASSWORD BUT DON'T KNOW THE ADMINISTRATOR'S NAME WHEN I'M TRYING TO CHANGE SETTINGS IN THE SYSTEM PREFERENCES THE PROGRAM ASKS FOR ADMINISTRATOR'S NAME AND PASSWORD I KNOW THE PASSWORD BUT NOT THE ADMINISTRATOR'S NAME, AND ONE THING MORE LAST TIME WHEN I WAS INSTALLING MAC OS X LEOPARD I SET IT UP FOR A SECURITY WHENEVER MY LAPTOP GET STOLEN AND SOMEONE WILL WANT TO REINSTALL MAC OS X LEOPARD OR WHATEVER THEY WILL HAVE TO PUT PASSWORD TO INSTALL AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT DID I TYPE THAT TIME DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW CAN I SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SHAM.

1) Reboot the computer.
2) Hold apple and s at start-up.
3) Type Mount -uw / then hit return
4) Type rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone and hit return
5) Type reboot press return and wait
6) Type in all information needed.
7) go to system preferences.
8) Accounts
9) Click lock button and enter password.
10) click account you want to reset the password on and click reset password.

What do I do when my start up screen is stuck on the gray screen and I've tried every reset and command button on start up and nothing works.how do I reinstall osx from another Mac using a firewire.

please halp me h4x0r my girlfriend MacZ0r, lolz!11

Man - thank you so much. I've been pulling my hair out trying to bypass the PW. The:

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

worked like a charm. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a similair problem. I have had an old imac G4 lying around that used to belong to my sister. I've decided to sell it to a friend, but I dont know the password, and neither does she. This mac is running OS 10.2.3, and I dont have the original install disc. I do have a leopard install disk though. Would I be able to use the same instructions you provided in this case?
Thanks alot!

hay dave i am a new mac person, how do i remove unwanted programs from the machine?

password suppurt

I want to say that I am forever in debt to you guys on this site especially "JoseAranda" for putting this code which worked to perfection!

[Hey Davo I was having the same problem as you but then I realized i wasnt putting a space after rm

but this one reset the password it will just create a new account for you but you can still see the other admin under accounts but I guess it doesnt really matter.

here it is again. THIS REALLY WORKS!!!!

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

again make sure you use space after /fsck then space again after /mount and finally space again after rm then just type reboot [enter] then mac osx will take you to making a new profile prosses.]

Thanks again JoseAranda!!! YOU ARE AWESOME!

wow, if it wasnt for mr jose arana up there i would be screwed. I tried everything i possibly could, and I have a raid controller with a mac pro.... what a nightmare. my mac is such an awesome machine but apple as a company needs to do a better job of having Only techies help techies!

I tried with Installation CD as mentioned at apple support website,indeed I changed password but when attempting to add more users it says invalid password even though I changed at installation cd setup.I totally gave up until I came across this website and tried the other method i.e command s and it worked like a charm,thanks to Jose Aranda

hii,
i have a problem resetting my adminstrator password and when i put in the mac os x cd to and try restarting for the cd it needs a password. so i just turned the system off then back on and the cd was still inside and i held the c button while the system boots but it would eject my cd before it finshes restarting. what can i do please help..

Hi Dave

I forgot my window vista password and i dont have a disk or the cd to get it going again.

is there a way to get past this.

respectfully

william

I am having a problem resetting my password. I cannot remember it. I was attempting to hear the governor's state address but was unsuccessful. I was asked to enter administrator's name and password. I have no info on that. Please help me

I have a g4 with old Osx 1.2.2 or something like that. I have been running it in clasic environment because of the software I was using. Tonite it states freezing up and finally it won't boot up. When I boot up, It goes to grey screen and nothing happens. No smiley face like usual, no folder icon, no nothing. Just grey screen. Plese help. Thanks so much.

Hi, Used JoseAranda's method on an iBook G3, have to say that this is the most response I've gotten out of any method posted to reset pass..HOWEVER... it is creating my account...2 HOURS RUNNING!!! Is this normal? I wouldn't think so..any suggestions? Thanks..

Thanks again JoseAranda!!! YOU ARE AWESOME!

My macbook is working again.

Jose Aranda, you must be the one :D
Your solution works sucessfully....thank you so much.

Hi Jose Aranda,

i wanted to ask if You could help me with this problem.
My Mac powerbook G4 has lost all visiblity on the scree, it stays completely white, so i have since connected an external monitor screen to work with it which isnt a problem, since everything is still functioning minus the screen.

However, after i asked someone to take a look at it, they returned it to me, and when i start it up it asks for the administrator password, which after i proceed to put it in, still wont give me access.
i want to try Your tip of Commnad- S on restart and then,
/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

BUT, because the screen is white i cant see anything, and nothing shows up on the external monitor either after putting in the command-s.

Is there any way of being able to see it on the external monitor so i can put in the /sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

Thanks,
appreciate it

awesome! Jose's method worked on my macbook today! Thanks SO much

hii,
i have a problem resetting my adminstrator password and when i put in the mac os x cd to and try restarting for the cd it needs a password. so i just turned the system off then back on and the cd was still inside and i held the c button while the system boots but it would eject my cd before it finshes restarting. what can i do please help..

I have about 200 MacBooks in now and I have the admin password from the client that gave them to us. However i need to clear the password to where it does NOT ask for one. When i put in the pass i have it allows me to change the pass. I leave both blank but it tells me i have to have at least 1 character for a pass. I DONT WANT A PASS ON THESE. Help please.

To Kevin with the 200 MacBooks in. If you don't want a password on any of these just give them a quick password then login and go to system preferences > Accounts > (you may need to unlock this window using password) then click on "Login Options" at bottom left of screen. At the top of that screen it should say something "Automatic Login: Disabled" now simply click on the user name and from then on you will log in automatically. TA DA! Hope it helped.

Hi all

I just did what JoseAranda told us and it didn´t work at first. I found another way to configure it. After deleting the .AppleSetupDone I rebooted and it didn´t prompt me of any root passwd change. I boot normally and had all working fine but not .AppleSetupDone database locate on my imac. I start a terminal and typed as a single User:

sudo passwd root

it prompted me to change the root password as no root password was found. I just typed what I wanted and bingo... I have root privileges.

here it is again. THIS REALLY WORKS!!!!

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

I do not know or understand what .AppleSetupDone file was storing. I suppose that it had the root password on it, as I could change it. Does any body could tell me what´s it for? Could other people attack using the same steps I did to liberate my imac?

Cheers

how do i reset my admin passowrd when windows xp boots up first on my macbook? i hit command s and it gives me the option for os or windows but i cant get into mac bios???

Hello all,
Thank you to Jose, it does work to get an admin account. However, I have a slightly different problem. I am trying to access my account on my Macbook Pro that I had enabled FileVault on, and forgot the password, and also the login password, which I thought was the same as the FileVault password (but appears is not the case) I have now been able to create a new Admin account, but, I am still unable to access the data on my old account (I get the little red checkmark, or whatever it is, on the accounts' name, and when I click on the account under Users, I get the dialog telling me that I do not have the rights to access that data. Help! If anyone knows how to get around this, it would be great. Basically, I need the "Master" password, the one that I entered when I enabled FileVault. Any help is appreciated. Thank you in advance.

I have tried all you suggest to no avail. When I hold down the command-S (I assume the command key and the S key at the same time) it simply boots normally. I get no screen that allows me to even enter the commands above. Please help.

mac i bookG4. sreen display pad lock. what i should do? any password? please help me.

hey I wanna find out my adm name and password too. BUT i want to keep all my files-- wil doing erase all of my files?

IN ORDER TO RESET THE PASSWORD, YOU GOTTA HAVE THE OLD ONE, OR GOOD LUCK RESETTING ANY PASSWORD.. REGARDLESS HOW YOU DO IT, EVEN "BEST BUY"COULDN'T FIX THAT PART FOR ME. I'M SCREWED.

well too reset a mac password there is a way you can do it in single user mode. search google for how to hack a mac password.

I purchased a used Macbook on ebay recently, but the bloke never gave me password and username (username comes up on things as Macbook User). I need to update itunes, etc, but it won't allow me. Have tried to use my password and user name for the itunes I had on my PC and for my new iMac, but no luck. Is there some generic password I can use, or is there any easy way around this if the guy doesn't get back to me with the info needed.

Thanks

Long time ago , I confronted with the similar problem. Finally , my friend Jane introduce the Windows password Reset 6.0.It help me access windows.It's great!

so i have a mac mini my father gave to me. i basically want to keep the family photos and his music because i like it. i just would like to change the password to my own and the user name and create another account for my brother, if i try JoseAranda method, would that erase all the files in the mac mini?? and would i be able to change the user name and not just the password?

and btw, i'm using a windows keyboard, so which one is command-c on the windows keyboard?

Just hold down the c button while ur booting up the computer thats it bypass mr password!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]

This works but all network setting will be gone, unless you know your network setting if not you are SOL. Also if you are on a managed domain. Your rights and group membership within that domain will be messed up.

Hint hint
Dont do this to a work computer. . . there are other ways to do this. .

I'm not computer savvy at all...if I'm going to install the Mac OS X how do I know whether to install a tiger or a panther? please help. thank-you.

Pravina, you want to install the very latest version of the OS unless you have an old computer that can't handle it. The current as of this note is Leopard, though Apple is reputed to be introducing "Snow Leopard" next week (mid-June, 2009) at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

You guys are such liars :| It's clear you are all clueless none of you are unix admins and you don't have the guts to just admit it :( so instead you give bullsh*t advice.

General steps to reset any unix machine's local root password apple included:

1- Run single use mode. In this case hold down apple+s as you are rebooting.

2- mount your partitions

3- chroot to the real root partition

4- go to /etc

5- vi shadow

6- find root entry

7- delete the stuff that is the password.
so for example:

root:asdfasfdfw3efs:10063:0:99999:7:::

will be changed to :
root::10063:0:99999:7:::

8- save

9 reboot

10 login as root.

11 change password immediately.

12. done.

That's all. How disgusting!! you are just a bunch of posers :(

If you are using a non-standard authentication like NIS or LDAP this will not work. This is for resetting local root only. I'm assuming no open firmware password. If that is set; That too can be hacked. But you can't do it if you don't know something as resetting a simple root. Find a white haired Sun Admin and ask him to please help you. Apples firmware is essentially as Sun's. It's based on Forth. Now go away.

Guys you are too much i was trying to remove the login password and everything is fine. keep the good work up.

hi,

I need help!! i forgot my password , and my mac doesnt let me log in without it. Can You help me please :(

Thank you

This is to therealunixadmin. Could you go step by step on the password reset, I am new to mac os x, and I am trying to change the old password of a computer given to me. I already tried jose aranda's method in single user mode, but when creating a new account, I get a Sorry, an unexpected error has occured. [Local account creation failed] *** -[NSCFArray objectAtIndex:]: index (2)beyond bounds(0)Can you, or someone please help?? Thanks in advance.

HERE IS WHAT I'VE TRIED WITH NO SUCCESS:

1. Pressing the "C" at startup with osx
v 10.2 and v 10.3.5. install cd's.
2. Pressing control-S
2. Holding down the start button for 5 to 10
seconds and pressing it again.

If anybody can help me out I would really welcome it. Thanks