I bought a used PowerBook G4. The original owners have moved to Canada and I do not have their phone number. The problem is that I do not know the administrator’s password. I am unable to make changes on the computer or add software without a password. How do I get a new password when I don’t even know the existing one?
I bet you’ll be surprised how easy it is to change the administrator (known in Unix parlance as “root”) password on a Mac OS X Tiger, Panther, etc., computer. The key to unlocking your system is the Mac OS X install disk.
If you don’t have this disk, then your best bet is to buy a copy of Mac OS X, even though you already have the OS installed on your computer (you could try calling Apple (800 SOS-APPL) and asking for a replacement boot disk too). One smart way to accomplish this: look for Mac OS X on eBay. You might also ask yourself if you need to run Tiger, or whether Panther would work for you – it’d be a lot cheaper.
Once you have an install disk in hand, double click on the Install Mac OS icon and you’ll get a window with a big graphic (this is one place where Apple isn’t subtle!) and a restart button. Click on it, and your PowerBook will restart and go straight to the install process.
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….
I’d show this menu as a screenshot here, but can’t figure out how to get a screenshot of the install process. Sorry!
Anyway, using this tool, you’ll be able to change your password to something you know. Then choose Quit from the Installer menu and when your computer restarts, you’ll now know the admin password.
Not too hard.
One important note here for anyone with a Mac: your admin password is only of limited security because anyone with an OS install disk can restart off their disk and reset your password without knowing your existing password. Just something to keep in mind, securitywise!
Hope this helps you out with your new PowerBook!
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?
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.
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?
but when i click “restart” it’s asking me the password i forgot. how am i supposed to restart without knowing the password?
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
To take your screenshot of the install process, use your handy digital camera! 😉
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.
Hi every one
how can I make restsrt from the keyboard to Imac?
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.
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…………..
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.
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
disk didnt work but josearanda work thanks
JoseArandas’s tip helped a lot. Thank you bud!!!
Will that cause me to lose all my documents and videos and pictures?
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
When i restart my computer, and hold down [command] S it doesn’t do anything. Someone please help.
Dave: You rock! Thanks a lot. You saved me hours of reinstall time.
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
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
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…
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!
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.
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
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
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.
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
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?
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?
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.
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??
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!!!!!
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
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
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?
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.
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
im just saying, this conversation has been going on for 3 years haha
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.
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
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?
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.
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
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
Dear Maggie,
Thank you soooo much..
it did work….
you are the best.
thanks again for your time and your help.
/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
reboot [Enter]
works great thankyou
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??????
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.
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?
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