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?

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

Hi! I was hoping you could help me out.

I lost my admin password of my Powerbook G4, so I used:

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

to remove the old admin account so i could create a new one. This worked perfectly in just one try. But when i have to fill in my data (Apple ID, name, address, etc.) the keyboard is disabled! It just makes this annoying sound when i press any key. Without entering your data you obviously can’t continue registration.

The keys do work untill that introduction clip starts.

Help would be very much appreciated, since my laptop is useless this way.!

i have a powerbook g3 and i forgot my password and so i tried to install the cd from a second account i created. but when i click install a sign comes up and says "installation cannot occur while logged in as a non owner. please log in with owner privileges" help? plz

my CD drive is broken, is there another way to change the admin password on a powerbook other than booting from the Installer disk? Is there a way to do this from another mac, PC or USB device?

Here's my Problem. I can log into my Macbook Pro using the local admin account without a problem. But when it comes time to deal with an administrative task,(i.e unlock the padlock), and I get prompted to input the password, the password fails. This account is THE admin account... ...first and only admin account.

any ideas as to why this may have happened and what I can do about it? ...without having to rebuild the box...

With access to the Mac OS X single user mode, you can create a new administration-level user account without entering a current administrative password. This process is useful for technical support and troubleshooting, but it does have important security implications.

The following process should be used only as a last resort, when none of the administrator-level accounts on the computer are functional. If you are providing technical support, you should only create a new administrator account in this manner if you have permission from the computer&rsquos owner or system administrator.

In most cases, you can do what is necessary using an existing administrator account. You may need to Change your Mac OS X account password in System Preferences. Or, if the password is not known or forgotten, you can Change a forgotten Mac OS X account password by starting up from any Mac OS X install disc.

Note: Being able to start up a computer in this way and create a new administrator user is a security risk. If you want to prevent the computer from starting up in single user mode or from a Mac OS X install disc, you should enable an Open Firmware password on the computer.
Restart the computer in Mac OS X single user mode by holding Command-S at startup.
Mount the computer's drive for read/write access. To do so, type the following command at the command prompt, and then press Enter:

% mount -uw /

Remove the file that identifies that the initial run of the "Mac OS X Setup Assistant" has been completed, with this command at the command prompt, followed by Enter:

% rm /var/db/.applesetupdone

Restart the computer by entering this command, followed by Enter.

% reboot

The Mac OS X Setup Assistant screen should appear after the reboot, just as it does when you start up a brand new computer or upgrade to a new version of Mac OS X.
Create a new user account with the Setup Assistant. Be sure to name this user something different than the admin user that already exists on the system, and use a strong password (see "Mac OS X password tips"). At the end of the Setup Assistant process, the system will automatically log into this new user account. The account will have a unique ID (UID) that is one higher than the last user that was on the system, and will have all administration privileges.
We strongly recommend that you delete the new administrator account in the System Preferences application, once you have done what you need to do with it and it is no longer needed.

This forum is the best.
It helped me a lot.
I have a Maccbook. I bought it in crack list.
When i turned it on i saw a question mark.
I olso tried to boot it from a cd, but it didn't work.
Any help please

i bought a PowerPC G4 (2.1) with the following specs and i cant get the administator password so please help me.

Machine Name: Power Mac G4
Machine Model:PowerMac3,6
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (2.1)

I have tried all the suggestions and nothing has worked, except that I now can't get the keyboard commands to work and the start up sound isn't there anymore, it just keeps booting to the password screen. Any suggestions? Cheers.

well i tried d lil method thing and at the end it asked me did i wanna do sum and i put yes and now i got a whole bunch o y's strolling up and dwn d screen someone please help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

Your the man, worked a treat!!! THANK YOU!!!

I bought a macbook with Leo. 10.5.7. I don't know the password, however every time I reboot and hold down Comand S, the login screen starts up as normal? Is there any other way, and also, when I try to type a password, some keys repeat itself twice.

Any Advice?

Thanks

I tried the procedure as described, and changed the root password. However, at the end there is a warning about usign Keychain Access to unlock the password for the login keychain, which leaves me stumped. Also, when issuing a command that is prefixed by 'sudo', I'm still out of luck. I even set the root password to something recklessly simple, so that typos don't have a chance.
What am I doing wrong? What do I have to do with Keychain Access?

Hi, i did the following to reset my password.
Ihave anew desktop and it looks like all my files were saved but my itunes music is gone or i cannot find it. can anyone please help!!??
thanks
eric

1. Boot into single user mode (press Command-S at power on)
2. Type fsck -fy
3. Type mount -uw /
4. Type launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.DirectoryServices.plist
5. Type dscl . -passwd /Users/username password, replacing username with the targeted user and password with the desired password.
6. Reboot

This allows you to reset the password in single user mode without booting from the install media.

hi.
I bought a macbook air for only $400..i found out that it was stolen...I tried to find the owner with no luck....I do not trust apple peole..they will take it..I know someone who works there and told me that..anyway..I need a password for my computer..I could not figure it out...
any help please??????

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

works great thankyou

Dear Maggie,
Thank you soooo much..
it did work....
you are the best.

thanks again for your time and your help.

Ok I power up, imm hold the "Apple Key" and the "S" key down
A blank screen comes up I continue to hold for 30 seconds still blank. I let go of keys still blank after 3 minutes

I have my G4 Titanium
Mac OSx 10.4.11

What am I doing wrong

Thnaks,

Drew

Im not sure what u mean by pressing the C buttom? do u mean the letter C on my keyboard...i must sound very stupid but this is my first mac book pro ever,i have the installation cd!but when i press the install mac os x buttom it requires former administration password wich i dont have have.so I press C and nothing happens just making a drumming sound!i have read all the advices given upon and am still confused and i also restarted the comp by using regular main switch while cd was still installed holding down the C button and no changes

Fiona, you're right: hold down the "C" key on your keyboard during the boot process. If you have a bootable CDROM in your computer, it'll try to boot off that before it looks at your hard drive.

Now that I have been able to setup the root access, I want to erase the "other" login icon at my os x startup screen... how do I do that?

hello,
I'm experiencing this problem with my macbook. I'm trying to install Mac OSX Leopard but it says that it cannot be installed on this computer! the dvds are original and I erased the hard drive before trying to install it. Please, I need some help here! I thought it would be much easier! thank u

Thank you so much JoseAranda! Your solution worked like a charm :) . I was able to reset the admin password on a MacBook Air Mac OS X version 10.5 without any problems.

im just saying, this conversation has been going on for 3 years haha

I just followed the steps of resetting the password and it worked but now ALL my files are gone. i have NO music. microsoft word is gone, iworks is gone, and all my photos. please HELP me now i need these files back asap. im pissed

That's an odd outcome. What you might have done is somehow ended up creating a new user account. Go to /Users (or, in the Finder, go to your home directory, then go UP one level in the file system) and look to see if there are any other accounts. Good luck.

Hi Dave,

when i start my ibook G4 it comes on with apple then goes to a black screen that say /etc/master.passwd: No such file or directory

I was told to type in sbin/fsck -fy and it did all these checks finally saying 'the volume seems to be ok. ad then has -sh-2.05b# and was told to type exit /:root# and nothing happened. I have also tried holding down shift button, holding down opt, cmd and a + v, and holding down cmd and alt, then holding down . and s and still no luck, any ideas?

working perfect ..!

mac os x 10.5.4
/sbin/fsck -fy (enter)
/sbin/mount -uaw (enter)
passwd (enter)
enter new password (exemp:didi) and retype password (didi)then.
exit (enter)

when systeme run, reboot whith closing session admin (menu apple)and
you chose run (othre user)
type in case user: root
type in case pswd: (your new password: didi)

will systeme run go in preference system(menu apple), users
now reset any password admin.

excuse my english

I followed Josés steps. Everything seemed to work out properly until' I was in the last screen in which I had to type in my new username and password (twice). After providing the information and typing enter I got an error message saying:

[Local account creation failed]
[NOTE: this exception originated in the server.]
*** [NSPathStore2 rangeOfString:options:range:]: nil argument

Does anyone know whether this has anything to do with the fact that my root disk was turned into "read only" while following Josés steps?
If not the case: what should I do to get my 4-year-old macbook going again?

PS: I use Mac OS 1.04 Tiger. Preferably don't wanna buy cd-roms and such again

To change your password on the Mac Pro Desktop box using your installation disk do the following:

1. Insert Disk
2. Shutdown your computer
3. Turn on the computer
4. Hold down the "C" key and keep holding until you see the "Pre-loader" icon spinning. (This will then make the computer boot up from the Install CD.)
5. Select your language then click next
6. HERE IS THE IMPORTANT PART *** Looking at the top of the main window (not the installation window) to the right of the Apple Icon select "UTILITIES" and then select the "Change Password" utility.

Change password and exit out of the Installation mode and restart your computer.

DONE DEAL!!!!!

DESPERATE! PLEASE HELP! Okay where have you guys been...I need a genius in a big way. This is a tough one (at least to me) hopefully someone here can help you guys all seem pretty damn smart. So I have a MacBook Pro 15.4" 2.4GHz Intel Core Duo about a year and a half old. About two months ago "someone" spilled water on it. I tried to save it and for the most part it was ok. Except I have some stuck keys and some that just dont work. At some point the admin password got changed and the keys were sticking so the new admin password is some random assortment of key inputs. So to top it off and make it even better my optical drive works about one out of every hundred times on restart dashing my hopes of an easy reboot/admin reset. So here is what I have...I bought a bluetooth keyboard which solves my key sticking problem and today I bought an external optical drive. HOWEVER I can only find at this time my LEOPARD install disk and not my original disk one system disk....disk two I have...of course. I would love to be able to keep all of my information if at all possible. Please...if there is anyone out there that can help I would be eternally greatful. I don't have to input the password when I start but I can't modify the applications directory so of course I can't add any new programs or upgrade any existing ones and that is getting to be a real drag. Is there hope?? Please????? Anyone??

rckseattle, there's no way around it, you need the original OS install disk. If you don't have one, ask around - you'd only need to borrow it for five minutes to reset your admin password to something you'd know. Don't forget to be doing good backups too, btw, because it sounds like you're livin' on the edge.

Dave....thanks for the reply, I may be able to round one up. So my Leopard install disk wont do the trick it has to be a system install disk but not necessarily my EXACT system? So I could use a system install disk from a Mac Book that was shipped with an earlier OS than Tiger? Then which method do I use...the Command + S process with fsck and all that? Also I have been reading about this method being something to definitely avoid if you have Firevault enabled? What if I have it enabled but not turned on? Will I be OK? I appreciate the help, this is more help than I have received since this happened. I am doing backups as much as I can but there are so many things I can't do with no Admin acess. One more thing...will the blue tooth keyboard work for a system boot such as this....in other words does it enable soon enough to make whatever keystrokes I need to start with be recognized? Would it be any easier if I had access to another Mac, specifically a Mac Book with install disks?

Hello I've got an imac and don't know the admin pass. I followed the instructions above. I forced shut-down, started with "c" key pressed with OS X in the drive, and got the install panel. I changed the password for the admin, then I accidentally started the install of the OS. I realized this, and forced shut-down the computer by holding the power button down. The install was in the process of checking the DVD before the install, so I don't think it started to install yet. Anyway, I ejected the OS X disk, and tried to start the computer, but all I get to is the blue screen with the Max OS X and the blue bar that shows progress loading...but the blue bar gets to the end and keeps going, and going...I never get the login page, it just hangs up. Any ideas?

Hi,
I had followed the CD method to reset my password, but unfirtunately by mistake i had pressed the install of the OS and after installation , Safari started acting weird, it just closes after a few seconds, can anyone help please

Hi, I stole a MacBook Pro with OS 10.6.2 installed. I don't know how to remove the old owners name off of it. Any help would be awesome. PS I'm only messing with ya. I bought it from Laptop Exchange and it's password was blank. I have to laugh at some of these peoples excuses for missing passwords.

Are there any of these tricks that work with an iMac? It's one of the first that had the computer built in with the monitor and I can't get any screen to pop up with either a disk selection or allowing me to use the Mac OS X disc to put a new password. It still goes to the login screen with the previous owner's name and asks for a password. I don't know what else to try. Thanks

Hello Dave, my problem is as follows:I'm in Germany and I met an American Deacon here who advertised some pcs and an old imac to give away so I picked up the imac. It's asking for a password and of course I had none to give it. Mr. Deacon is probably still enroute to USA and even if I coud reach him he'ds already told me he doesn't know anything about the imac except that it was all there. I have no disks or clues. I tried to apply the /sbin/fsck-y but to no avail. Either I just get a lot of Ss or it runs back to the question of the password. Do the words Linus, yellowdog, localhost and localdomain mean anything to you and if so, do they figure into my problem at all and if so, how? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you, Kevin

Tyler, Kevin, and others, remember that if you can't get any satisfaction, borrow an OS install disk, ideally for the exact version of Mac OS X you're running, start it up, then choose "Reset Admin Password" from the File menu instead of actually doing an install.

IF you change the amount of RAM in PowerBooks you can bypass the open firmware password for ONE boot. (The very next one.) :)

The you can run the following to make another root account in the OS.

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

Enjoy!

I have a G4 Quicksilver running OS 10.3.9. I did a routine change of my regular administrator's password which somehow was not recognized on the next boot. I then used the "Mac" method of using the installation disc to change the administrator's password only to find my administrator account GONE with only my restricted users left remaining on next reboot. I need to re-set my administrator's password in such a way that I can re-access my files which remain on my hard disc. Can I use JoseAranda's method to do this? Thanks...

Hi!
Have just bought a mac with a retail OS 10.5 upgrade. Ran the upgrade and it made both users standard from admin. Arrgh.
Have tried all the above suggestions. I can't get it to boot from disc by holding C. It just boots from hard drive. Won't go to a bash prompt (in fact it ignores all key presses I try during boot - no errors or anything, just as if I wasn't pressing anything.
If I try to install OS, it requires password. Can't make any other changes as I don't have an admin account anymore.
I'm wondering if I have an open firmware password. If I have, I didn't set it, so not sure why!
Have tried using terminal to enter commands as above, but it tells me authentication failed (presumably as I don't have admin rights).
Can anyone suggest anything else I can try? I wish I'd stuck with 10.4! Or maybe even the PC!
Help!
Cheers,
Loz

Hello,

I did this:
Restart Computer hold down command (the apple sign) and press S. Untill black screen. Then Type
/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]
AND IT WORKED PERFECTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think you have to have the reinstallation cd in the computer for this to work. Not sure tho, try both ways
THANKS

Dave: You rock! Thanks a lot. You saved me hours of reinstall time.

When i restart my computer, and hold down [command] S it doesn't do anything. Someone please help.

So I forgot my admin password and found some instructions to create a new admin account (See below) I followed them and created a new account and deleted the old admin account. The problem is now when I restart my computer it keeps the new admin account but wipes any of the user preferences I have set up. ie. screen saver, Mail preferences, it deletes any word docs saved to the desktop, all preferences are wiped from the computer.
Can you help or suggest something?

1.REBOOT
2. COMMAND & S (AFTER YOU HERE THE CHIME)
3.AFTER TEXT PROMPT ENTER IN THESE TERMINAL COMMANDS (PRESS ENTER AFTER EACH LINE)

mount -w /
rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
shutdown -h now

Will that cause me to lose all my documents and videos and pictures?

JoseArandas's tip helped a lot. Thank you bud!!!

disk didnt work but josearanda work thanks

Hi i have an old 15" powerbook g4. yes i know it is old and not worth the effort but i still love it. its been my pride and joy for the last 5 years. but around christmas after finding out someone had been secretly using our wireless internet connection i decided to format my little baby. and as i was rather shocked in someone being able to hack into our wireless connection, i made a point of creating an awesome password ( symbols and all!) now i did write it down on paper,as busy during the jolly season one week later i went to continue re-building my powerbook and was unable to log in. my password was 33 characs long according to my 4am scribble.

this is the 2nd time i have forgotten my password. the first time was 3years ago, and when taken to apple for service, they told me to use Tiger Cd - PERFECT! but this time - it isn't booting from disc (same one as bfore - orignal).

i have been since told that i must have activated firmware protect or somthng. now my brother has unscrewed eveything, and we are trying to locate the battery on the mother board which retains all data - but we are still had no luck....

CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM??? THANKS SO MUCH

I know this question is completely redundant so my apologies, but I am not at all technologically proficient.

I own my Mac Book OS X 10.4.11, and so have all the CDs and such that came at the time of purchase.
I forgot my password and was locked out of my computer when trying to log in.

I performed the method from my apple, book, brochure, regarding-installing disk 1. I saw that was also recommended at the top of your list as well. I still had the problem of entering my password

I did the second suggestion, of Jose A, which worked to get me back into my computer, however, it has disabled my user functionality.

Meaning- I have access to applications that were installed before, yet I have to re-install them. Also, my photos, music, and documents, are all gone, as well as my bookmarks when I log on line.

I went into Finder and saw my old User Name but it has a red dash and is blocking my entry it states (no access).

If you already gave this answer I apologize and I am also incredibly thankful for any efforts or advise. I am deeply committed to becoming more computer literate.

If you forget your admin password - dont worry.
create a new admin account by doing this.
Can you help or suggest something?

1.REBOOT THE MACHINE
2.PRESS " COMMAND & S " (AFTER YOU HERE THE CHIME SOUND)
3.AFTER TEXT PROMPT ENTER IN THESE TERMINAL COMMANDS (PRESS ENTER AFTER EACH LINE)

Root: ls users
Root: mount -uw /
Root: passwd username
Root: new password
Root: re-enter new password
Root: reboot

That's it..............

This is my second email to you. The first one got knocked back because I sent too many???
Anyway, I have a g3 with a cd slot with a non-burning player in it. Iam running osx 2.0 and os9.1. Is it possible to burn a video to an usb stick and burn it on my windows machines. (xp, win7)? OR plug in a dvd multi and try that?
Thankyou.

Hi every one
how can I make restsrt from the keyboard to Imac?

There seems to be a confusion in terms here. What is described in the answer(s) to the original question was Administrator's password, and the first reply explained how to do this.

This answer, however, mentioned that in unix this was known as the "root", but you should be careful, because there is a drop-down menu on this set of screens, which gives you a prompt to "System Administrator(root)" which is definitely not the same thing.

What you can do, and these replies refer to that, is change the administrator's password (this is typically the user login ID of the person who set the Mac up, but it won't be the Mac's "System Administrator(root)".

See, for example, the information from Apple at the following:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274

Where, under the second paragraph (Resetting the original administrator password), bullet 5 has an important note on this.

Hope this helps and avoids any confusion/problems.

To take your screenshot of the install process, use your handy digital camera! ;)

This process will take about 5-10 minutes. If you have a password, or WEP code for your network or internet, be sure to have that at hand.
http://www.macpassword.com/mac-admin-hack.html

but when i click "restart" it's asking me the password i forgot. how am i supposed to restart without knowing the password?

Situation: I just received two Mac G5's from another division. They were at one time on an AD but have since been removed. The technicians that supported the Mac's are no longer with the company.

Problem: When booting up holding the Option key I come to a locked screen, if I hold the Command + s the system just boots up to the login page. The same also happens when holding the Command + c.

Question: How do I unlock the firmware password so that I can boot holding the Command + s, or even boot to CD to wipe the entire system and rebuild?

After further research I found this website which helps walk you thru enabling and disabling the firmware security.

http://www.securemac.com/openfirmwarepasswordprotection.php

I am now in the computer and back in the domain.

Hello. My mother uses my macbook sometimes and she tried to put a new admin name, and password. It was all fin untill she just forgot both the admin name and password. How do I recover this info or just undo this action?

Can I use an Apple Powermac Mac OS X 10.1 Install CD to unlock admin password?

When i restart my computer, and hold down [command] S it doesn't do anything. Someone please help

Thank you so much. Worked like a charm. Rona.

Hi,

I have apple power book G4 with mac OS. I have given password to the user account and admin. I forgot the both passwords. Now I am unable to start my laptop. I do not have any support CD. Can any one help to me on that issue. I was trying to install XP as well as vista, but it is not booting the CD. Can you please give some solution for that?

Regards,

Vijay Kumar

Thanks josearanda that method worked. Tip to others, in case you missed what I missed: Once you've rebooted, go into system preferences > system > accounts and rest the password on the account you originally set up.

josearanda's method worked to a point. My problem I have now is at the create your account screen the select your picture part is blank and the continue button is grayed out.

Hi Dave, I just wanted to thank you.
My father-in-law bought a used eMac, and neither he nor the vendor had given the root password any thought, and he didn't encounter any problems before he wanted to add a new printer. Now he, the computer and the printer are up and running, thanks to you!

But don't install the OS again! Just click through windows far enough until you get the regular set of choices on the menu bar. One of those menus is Utilities and one of the choices on that menu is Reset Password...

What will happened if I proceed with the installation? HELP
I had done the above but went on with the installation on my Mac Powerbook G4.

If you desire to change the root password on the mac, you just open up terminal in your logged in account and type:

sudo passwd root (enter)

this will prompt you to enter a new password for root 2x. and voila! a new root password!

If you don't know what to do with the root user, then you probably shouldn't be attempting to change the password.

Now lets clear something up....admin !=root!

You can be an admin user without being root. In fact-that is how your mac is set up after you install, and create a user. You are an admin user.

Now if you are needing to change your password, or a different users password, then fine...Google it. The only thing Jose's steps will do for you is create a new user, and possibly allow you to change your own users password.....

Don't get mad at me, just trying to help.

an iMAC user hacked into my computer.

00166f960ad6

how do i get this person out of my computer?

others get to my computer through that person, the main second party is 0021001c0cdd.

thanks for any help

HI, I am in HAITI .i have a powerbookg4 it was for my father, and my father and my brother .12th of january 2010 ,our house was destroyed.i take the powerg4 of my father i have not the administrator password please help me.I cannot upgrade noting, thank you,

I have Mac Desktop and there's an admin password the seller told me that he didn't input any password on the Mac Desktop. Unfortunately, i can't update nor install any programs there's an admin password on the desktop.

I don't have the Installation Disk... Any help would be highly appreciated.

Thank you.

hi
I got a i book 2001 with mac os x off e-bay.
they give me the pasword. but forgot to give me the username is thier a way to resit it or by pass it. help me places

I bought a macbook for school off ebay for a cheap price. Brand new but it had been the shopfront mac, ie. the example one that everyone has used and knocked around etc. I have been using it but similarly to those above it has an administrative password that i don't know. the user name is "all tech". i have tried reinstalling snow leopard but all options are blocked or it asks for password
what do i do??

Here is the information on how to reset your password below:

TURN OFF YOUR MAC , THEN TURN IT BACK ON WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE APPLE + S KEYS UNTIL YOU HEAR A CHIME.THIS WILL TAKE YOU TO WHAT IS CALLED TERMINAL COMMANDS.
WHEN YOU GET A TEXT PROMPT , TYPE/ENTER THE FOLLOWING LINES OF CODE HITTING THE RETURN KEY AFTER EACH LINE.

You must know the user name of which you want to reset its password.

mount -uw / (press enter)
passwd *username* (press enter)
type the new password when it prompts you to do so (press enter)
reboot now (press enter)

make sure to pay close attention to the spaces, dashes and slashes.
where it says username don’t include the stars next to it.
also remember to hit return after each line.
Make sure the you do not space in between the db/.Apple and use capital letters where they are in the code and it will work

that's it....you're done....you're back in.
if it doesn't do that , then you did it wrong.
try again.

i have forgotten the password for my mac operating system is their a possibility for me to unlock the computer or i just have to change the operating system

Hi guys!
I have a stupid question, but still..
If i reset my admin pass WITH the instalation disk will I lose my files?
Please answer! Thanks! :)

Michael, that's what we're talking about in this article. Go back to the top and read it. :-)

Dessi, changing the admin password will not affect the files on your computer...

Hi, I went through the Reinstall process with my disc and went to the Reset Password option. However, "System Administrator (root)" is my ONLY option for resetting the password, and it won't give me any other options, and it won't let me reset password for the root. What do I do now? Thank you in advance!!

Hi
All the help on the page dit not work for me i tried all. I have a imac 10.4.11 tiger. I can reset password nor wil my cd drive keep the cds in it keep ejecting cd eve normal music cd. When i switch mac on it goes to starting mac with proces bar then gives welcom in diffrent languges the gives a big x and getting started. I then fill in al the steps. When the page coms to greate accoun i enter password and al hit continue it says: Unexpected error occured. Local account creation failed. [NOTE: THIS EXCEPTION ORIGINATED IN THE SERVER] and more stuff. I hit ok then unable to add standard user. What now plz help me to get mac back on track. Steve

I volunteer at the columbus branch of FreeGeek, and we get used computers in all the time, and logging into one without password is a pain. Of course, we erase all the data with dban, but we still have to log in. This hint is a real convenience the next time a locked Mac cones in!

Hi Davi: ;-)

I am on a 2010 Macbook and think i might have a unique problem I am unable to work around.

When I press Utilities, there isn't anything showing.
In any event, every time I reboot, press C, etc, I get a kernel panic window.
I dont personally believe there is anything wrong with the hardware but believe this is just part of the locked up process.
I have tested my Ram and I dont have anything else installed and it seems to be working just fine.
So normally I wold just repot press C and reformat but i cant do it.
Neither will it let me erase the hard drive but will only let me rewrite over the empty part of the drive..

So I am not able to get to RESET the Password per your instructions.
And since every reboot brings u the kernel panic window which essentially just tells me that i need to restart my computer. Hold down the Power button for several seconds or press the Restart Button.
You can see a jpeg of this window at http://tinyurl.com/9owb39

Any other ideas?

I have a full Mac Snow Leopard and usually a reboot alone will let me by pass the password and I can reformat and install but nothing i can do at the moment will let me do this

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!!

2nd Post-1 above this one

I tried to do what you posted and then I tried to get into safe mode by pressing Shift and now I cant do anything for this Kernal Panic window is now coming up every time after i did that. Before it only came up if i tried to reboot and pressed C. It would then tell me to hold down the power button and t urn it back on and when I did, it would open up properly but no longer, now just into kernal panic mode each time

Before this I did test the RAM and it seems fine and i am not using any devices on it.

Any idea how i can get it back out of this mode?
I dont live anywhere near an Apple store

got it out of that mode, once i took the dvd out of its slot so back to trying to break the password again

The JoseAranda fix WORKED.......i realize this is 5 years old but I am still very grateful.
Thanks for this page ;-)

Thanks so much. This helped especially me who is dyslexic.

Hi, i just got my MAC, at my school i need to get office installed and The printers too, they asked me for my password and i couldn't remember it, the guy entered to TERMINAL and typed -us after my username and when he clicked enter, "password:" appeared, i tried typing it many times and didn't worked. I've done this method you posted several times, but how can i make sure i did it correctly and next time i take it there it will work?

hi everyone if non of those steps work try this one guarantee adolfos one will work on any mac's device just remember to use spce like on the lines 1. Reboot
2. Hold apple key + s key down after you hear the chime. (command + s on newer Macs)
3. When you get text prompt enter in these terminal commands to create a brand new admin account (hitting return after each line):

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

4. After rebooting you should have a brand new admin account. When you login as the new admin you can simply delete the old one and your good to go again!

Apple stores wont reset it for you. Computer shops may charge you $50 to $200 trying to reinstall the Mac and failing at end

You Menitoned Removing the battery and disconecting
the VRAM. I Know where the battery is But Wheris the
VRAM to disconect. Rodney.

I bought a used macbook air 2011 that has firmware password.
can anyone PLEASE help me to bypass this password.
I tried everything with no help.
Thanks

This info is helpful. I hope not to lose files . I teach and holiday graphic designs are stored. A teacher's nightmare. I have an iMac g5 Tiger.

The beginning issue was the screen without any noted incident did not go past the Apple icon to the desk top. I mistakingly, perhaps, reinstalled with the disc rather than going to utilities. The reboot creates a login window.
Previously there was no account set up.

I have tried rebooting with the disc in and pressing "apple + c" . Then choosing the language and selecting the apple bar "utilities" menu and selecting "change password".

Here the window for the hard drive selected only recognizes the user as "System Administrator (root)". I changed the password and entered a "hint". The change was accepted. I have rebooted and tried to log in with the disc in and disc out. The window expects a user entry so I entered my name with the new password and "System Administrator (root)". I am unable to get to my desk top.

The old files can be viewed from the installer disc . I have appreciation for the suggestions. Holding down "s" on reboot and entering code. I am aware that I simply do not know which recommendation keeps the children's work and records intact and accessible nor do I know how, specifically, the computer specifications iMac tiger g5 , OSX 10.4 relates to the actual code entries.

Well best wishes and an early "ThankYou" for the site. Elisabethe

So sorry-Correction: I held down "c" not "command +c". I am able to get to code by holding down"command+s" . Best Elise

Referring to answer at top of page that covers resetting password and includes iMac G5, Tiger 10.4. I have reinstalled O S X 10.4.3. This may be a mistake as system is 10.4.11 higher. I am encouraged as I can still view file list thru utilities. The files belong to my students.

Following the instructions at the top of the page -I used installer disk however there is no " install Mac icon". Note I had to hold "c" upon reboot in order to view installer disc. There was no mention of this so I am more than not likely to be off base. There is a page to select the language. I can get to a hard drive icon page but clicking the icon does not create a menu. In previous query the computer login does not accept the reset password upon reboot. However it does say that the password is reset when I changed it.
Again Best Elisabethe

Hi, I have an old PowerBook G4 titanium model. I need to reset the password.

It's been 5 years since I have used the PowerBook and cannot for the life of me remember the right password.

I have the installer cd and followed the steps and changed all three of the user passwords.

But after restarting and going back to the login screen it won't accept the new password???

Please help!! I don't want to lose what is on the computer, and don't know how to login without the password.

Thank you so much!!!

hi all hope you can help

we have been given an apple mac which uses snow leopard and we have inserted the os x disk to reset the admin password which is all good, but it will only let me select the option "system administrator (Root)" there are no other option to choose from! have i done something wrong?i dont no why it will only give me the option of the root user but not the admin user account??

please help

Andrew

A_R_D@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks for the great info!

Just because you have a password doesn't mean your data is safe, so knowing the methods which your password could be reset helps show the need to use further methods, thanks!

Jose Aranda . You are wonderfuly made by God, i love you. I have taking my laptop to place to unlock my code even the apple company but they could not able to do it , untill i discovered ur formular and applied it ,it worked immediately like a magic . Am happy .

I have a similar issue though not exactly the same. I have an old Imac (2006) loaded with Version 10.6.8. (snow leopard) that a friend has given me as he longer uses it. He deleted all his data along with his user name and administrator password before passing it over and since then I cannot update any software or change system preferences or anything requiring the adminstrator password. I have tried to reset the password by installing the snow leopard disk I have (meant to work for 5 licenses and only installed on my own Imac)but everytime I try to install and go to utilties the install program asks for my user name and adminstrator password which I don't have. I have tried various UNIX commands from the terminal but these havent worked either. I also do not see any license agreement or language selection or anything else when I double click on install. Is it possible the disk is only one use?? or is there anything else I can try to reset the adminstrator password without knowing the origional user account etc.?

Hi,

I have big problem, I bought macbook pro oct 2011 model from someone and i was using it in my country but I think the owner has set the pin code on main OS it means i dont have any access on macbook,whenever i turn on so it asks the pin to unlock it and when i pres command + s key so again it goes for pin, please any 1 can help to unlock it totally i dont have dvds or os, thanks

When I go to the utilities list to reset password, I enter the new details but then it tells me it will not be changed automatically due to the keychain access and then I click ok and it voids the new password I have entered and leaves blank fields, I managed to get into my main account by the install disc but I still cant get in to the admin area with a new passoword.. any help??

much gratitude..

Hi; I have an intel IMac , and before going on a vacation I set up a password, to protect my data, when I come back I could not remember the password,i followed the instructions from Jose post, but it setup another account, I have a backup disk of everything that was on the computer before I went, but because the data is larger than the space left on the disk it won't let me do a restore, can you please advise on how to do the restore into the old partition? and how to undo the mods done with Jose suggestion?
thanks
mariano

Yikes! Please help. I am a flake and forgot my password to my admin so I was not able to install anything. My friend helped me to reset the password using the single user mode method. Here are the instructions that I followed.

1) Reboot. hold command + S.
2) At the command prompt type:

mount -uw /
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone

I cannot remember the last line but after all this rebooted the computer again. All of the files previously on my desktop are gone! Looking in the finder window, my image files are also missing. I'm really worried that I just erased all of my old files. When I go to Macintosh HD and go to Users, my old user account is there with all of my old files. They have a red icon next to them and in the permissions it says that there is no access.

Is there any way to retrieve my old files or are they forever gone? I would really appreciate it if any of you macdaddies out there could help a girl out. Thank you for reading
=^.^=

hi dave,
i tried to install Crystalbuntu on a usb derive, using terminal on my mac.
it is strange, since it asks for my os password. well..i tried all the passwords i could remember..not working
adminsitrator on my mac got no password, i left it blank, (not working) set adminstrator password, but not working..
i restarted my mac with ctrl r , got to the boot menu , utilities, terminal and used resetpassword command..
restarted my computer, and the damn thing askes for a password again to deploy the linux on the usb..
i am going nuts..i never set any password to my administrator account, i left it empty..but even typing enter when asking for password is not working...
what am i missing here?