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...