Classic - Can't override passwords or re-install on old Imac

digitalartetc · digitalartetc #1 (**permalink**)

10-20-2008, 11:58 PM

Hey..I just bought an old iMac for my dad for like $20 on ebay. Trouble is it requires passwords which the person didn't who sold it to me didn't know. I figured I could just get an old os 9 install disc and start over. BUT..when I pop the disk in, it just spits it out. It doesn't recognize it. (The imac is running 9.2 and the install disk is 9..could that be the problem)? The CD drive works because I popped a regular audio CD in and it saw it fine. I tried restarting holding the "c" key down before it had a chance to spit the disk out but that didn't work either. Is there anyway to override these **** passwords? I just can't understand why the disk wont mount. It mounts on my current Mac so it's not a bad disk. Help this sucks! Thanks

Aptmunich · Aptmunich #2 (**permalink**)

10-21-2008, 12:51 AM

Pop the disc into your newer Mac, connect the two Macs via firewire, reboot your newer Mac and hold down "T". The boot the old iMac and hold down "option". You should be able to boot off the CD in the newer Mac's drive.

(assuming of course the old iMac has firewire and you have a Firewire to firewire cable).

digitalartetc · digitalartetc #3 (**permalink**)

10-21-2008, 09:16 AM

Thanks Apt but the old Imac does not have FW. Any way to get the 2 talking via USB?

Aptmunich · Aptmunich #4 (**permalink**)

10-21-2008, 02:04 PM

Hmm, unfortunately not like the way I described above - that's a feature that only Firewire offers.

I don't think your can boot PowerPC Macs off of USB harddrives either... don't suppose you have an old external CD drive lying around?

digitalartetc · digitalartetc #5 (**permalink**)

10-22-2008, 09:55 AM

no i don't. but thank you much for your input. perhaps i'll take it to my local apple store and see if they can do something.

Aptmunich #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 09, 2004 Location: Munich Posts: 9,075 Mac Specs: Aluminium Macbook 2.4 Ghz 4GB RAM, SSD 24" Samsung Display, iPhone 4, iPad 2	10-21-2008, 12:51 AM Pop the disc into your newer Mac, connect the two Macs via firewire, reboot your newer Mac and hold down "T". The boot the old iMac and hold down "option". You should be able to boot off the CD in the newer Mac's drive. (assuming of course the old iMac has firewire and you have a Firewire to firewire cable). Mac-Forums Twitter \| Mac-Forums Blog My Twitter \| Jetplane Journal
	QUOTE Thanks

Aptmunich #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 09, 2004 Location: Munich Posts: 9,075 Mac Specs: Aluminium Macbook 2.4 Ghz 4GB RAM, SSD 24" Samsung Display, iPhone 4, iPad 2	10-21-2008, 02:04 PM Hmm, unfortunately not like the way I described above - that's a feature that only Firewire offers. I don't think your can boot PowerPC Macs off of USB harddrives either... don't suppose you have an old external CD drive lying around? Mac-Forums Twitter \| Mac-Forums Blog My Twitter \| Jetplane Journal
	QUOTE Thanks

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Classic - Can't override passwords or re-install on old Imac

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digitalartetc #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 29, 2008 Location: Recently re-located to Louisville, Ky from NYC Posts: 5	10-20-2008, 11:58 PM Hey..I just bought an old iMac for my dad for like $20 on ebay. Trouble is it requires passwords which the person didn't who sold it to me didn't know. I figured I could just get an old os 9 install disc and start over. BUT..when I pop the disk in, it just spits it out. It doesn't recognize it. (The imac is running 9.2 and the install disk is 9..could that be the problem)? The CD drive works because I popped a regular audio CD in and it saw it fine. I tried restarting holding the "c" key down before it had a chance to spit the disk out but that didn't work either. Is there anyway to override these **** passwords? I just can't understand why the disk wont mount. It mounts on my current Mac so it's not a bad disk. Help this sucks! Thanks
	QUOTE Thanks

digitalartetc #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 29, 2008 Location: Recently re-located to Louisville, Ky from NYC Posts: 5	10-22-2008, 09:55 AM no i don't. but thank you much for your input. perhaps i'll take it to my local apple store and see if they can do something.
	QUOTE Thanks

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