Forgotten password

Valli

I have an i book G4 (Apple) that I bought s/h (from my sister, her husband set it up for me). I can shut down when not in use which is what I have been doing. Not logged out. Good thing, really. Unfortunately, due, no doubt to my great age, I have forgotten the password I set it up with.

I have tried a few options (ie stuff I often use as passwords) but so far without success. Is there a way of retrieving the password? (need it as updates won't install)

I could ask the Bil as he's an IT geek but my error will live with me for the rest of my life if I do!

Thanks.

Valli

:(:(:(bump

samwsmith1

There's a guide here - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1274 - go down to where it says 'Resetting the original administrator account password'
You need the original install DVD which I don't know if you've got with it being second hand.

Valli

thanks - looks like I'll have to fess up to my brother-in-law then as he, no doubt, will have the original install DVD

oh well! it'll give everyone a laugh at Christmas

samwsmith1

If your running snow leopard you could always try ebay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=snow+leopard+dvd&_sacat=0&_odkw=snow+leopard+dvd&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313
This one looks ok at a reasonable price:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/iMac-Snow-Leopard-OS-X-10-6-4-Install-DVDs-UNUSED-/230671775476?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item35b51bf6f4
Even though it says iMac it is universal for all macs, if your not running snow leopard you could try searching for your OS on ebay.

(All this is of course, if you would like to avoid embarrassment!)

Mista_C

There's a simpler way to reset a Mac OS X password...

1. Hold Apple Key + S at the chime.
2. At Terminal type the following commands (Case Sensitive): -
a. Mount –uw /
b. rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
c. shutdown -h now
3. Reboot the computer and go through the setup process.
4. Login with the new Administrator Account.
5. Go to System Preferences > Accounts.
6. Reset the password for the original Administrator Account.
7. Log out and log in again using the original Administrator Account and new password.
8. Delete the new Administrator Account you created during the setup process.

Basically this makes your Mac think it's never been configured on first boot and allows you to go through the process again creating a new account etc. along the way. Once that's done you simply login with the new account and reset the password on the original account which when logged into doesn't realise anything has changed except the password..