12-06-2008, 07:01 AM

hi, i just joined this forum because i need help with this macbook that my brother gave me. he told me i could do whatever i want with it but he cant remember the password or anything so i'm basically locked out...

i found this page: Mac OS X: Changing or resetting an account password

and i found a place that sells those gray install disks, but they're like $50-$60 each. i was wondering if there's an easier way to delete or reset the admin password and wipe the hard drive? i would really appreciate any quick responses. thanks!

p.s. oh and i forgot to ask, just in case i do get the gray install disk, how do i check what version macbook i have?

12-06-2008, 08:22 AM

Well you will have to have that install disc for either option. As for which is easier, neither is really easier than the other. In both cases, the disc does all the work But just resetting the password will take less time. And you can look your Macbook up by it's serial number. That would tell you what version of the OS came on it originally.

12-06-2008, 10:02 AM

Thanks for the quick reply. I looked up the serial number and found what macbook I have... so if I order these DVDs: MacBook Core Duo Restore DVDs - iFixit and put them in to the computer, then start it up and press C at the same time I'll be able to reset the password and wipe the hard drive?

Thanks again.

12-06-2008, 10:48 AM

If you want to leave the OS and applications in tact you can simply delete his user account and return the MacBook to a "factory" state, where you'll be greeted by the "Welcome" video and the registration/setup process just as you would when you boot a new Mac for the first time.

To do this, you need to first know the short name of your brother's user account (System Preferences-->Accounts) and then boot the MacBook into single user mode by holding down command-s at startup.

Pay close attention to the spaces in the following commands - you can really mess things up in single user mode if you're not careful. Proceed at your own risk...

At the prompt, type

/sbin/fsck -fy

and hit return. Once the file system check is complete, type

/sbin/mount -uw /

and hit return; then type

rm -rf /Users/xxxx

where "xxxx" is your brother's short username, and then hit return and type

rm -rf /var/db/netinfo/local.nidb

and hit return, then type

rm -rf /var/db/.AppleSetupDone

and hit return, then type

reboot

and hit return.

The remove (rm) commands may be combined into a single command if you know how to do it, I just thought it would be easier to keep them separate here.

Hope this helps - good luck

12-09-2008, 04:06 AM

Ok, I downloaded GParted on to a disk and stuck it in the MacBook, and then held down C at start up, but nothing happened.

Can someone help me out with getting this to boot from disk? I burned GParted on to a CD with ISO Burner...

I just need to wipe the hard drive, I don't really care about what ever was on the computer and he told me he doesn't really care either cause he never used it that much.

Thanks.

12-14-2008, 09:37 PM

Ok, I got the hard drive out and unscrewed the metal back of it which exposed the green/blue part, but I'm confused... I have an external hard drive enclosure that I wiped a similar hard drive on, but this hard drive is weird. The little prongs on it are flat, and I can't get the black part off. Can someone please help me with this?

Any quick responses would be very appreciated, because I'm catching a plane in a couple of days, and want to do this quickly. Thanks.