Forgot my password..what do i do?

[jcpunerd]

I am running MAC OS X and I don't really know MAC very well. I somehow managed to forget my admin password and I cannot remember it. What would you suggest I do? Worst case scenario, is there any way to wipe out the harddrive and reinstall MAC OS X along with all the factory preinstalled programs?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Amen-Moses]

I am running MAC OS X and I don't really know MAC very well. I somehow managed to forget my admin password and I cannot remember it. What would you suggest I do? Worst case scenario, is there any way to wipe out the harddrive and reinstall MAC OS X along with all the factory preinstalled programs?

Thanks in advance.

Yes, just boot from the OS X disk (I think you hold down the C or R key on power up, it is in the manual) and re-install.

Amen-Moses

 

[jn4jenny]

Or you could just change the admin password and save yourself the trouble fo a reinstall. Boot from the OS X Disk or your System Restore Disk, hold C key as computer starts, choose "Reset Password" from Installer Menu, select your Mac OS X hard disk volume, and select your admin account name. Don't select System Administrator--that's different. Enter a new password. Save. Done.

 

[jcpunerd]

I don't currently have access to the MAC OS X disc...is there any other way to change/recover the admin password? Thanks.

 

[Amen-Moses]

I don't currently have access to the MAC OS X disc...is there any other way to change/recover the admin password? Thanks.

No, that's the whole point of having security, i wouldn't be very secure if someone could just access or change the password now would it.

Amen-Moses

 

[jn4jenny]

Mac Lesson Number One: Don't EVER buy a Mac without a System Restore CD. It's okay not to have OS X itself, but you really need a System Restore CD for password mishaps, hard drive failure, blah blah blah.

Mac Lesson Number Two: You can buy System Restore CD's as long as you buy the one that is specifically for your system. Mine, for example, is a Powerbook G4 1Ghz System Restore CD. You can Google to locate one.

 

[jcpunerd]

No, that's the whole point of having security, i wouldn't be very secure if someone could just access or change the password now would it.

Amen-Moses

i have read on various websites that it is possible to change the admin password via the command prompt.

 

[jcpunerd]

Mac Lesson Number One: Don't EVER buy a Mac without a System Restore CD. It's okay not to have OS X itself, but you really need a System Restore CD for password mishaps, hard drive failure, blah blah blah.

Mac Lesson Number Two: You can buy System Restore CD's as long as you buy the one that is specifically for your system. Mine, for example, is a Powerbook G4 1Ghz System Restore CD. You can Google to locate one.

Is the sytem restore cd the same as the software restore cd? I have searched google and eBay but have been unsuccessful in locating an "IBOOK G4 SYSTEM RESTORE CD".

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Amen-Moses]

i have read on various websites that it is possible to change the admin password via the command prompt.

Yes it is, but you need the old password in order to do it.

The main big plus point about unix based operating systems is that they are extremely secure.

Amen-Moses

 

[jn4jenny]

Is the sytem restore cd the same as the software restore cd? I have searched google and eBay but have been unsuccessful in locating an "IBOOK G4 SYSTEM RESTORE CD".

Thanks in advance for the help.

Yes, they are the same. Do notice that the CD's are specific to your processor power (the 1.33Ghz CD is NOT the same as the 1.2 Ghz CD, etc.)

Example:
http://www.pbfixit.com/cart/catalog/category_28_Manuals__CDs_page_2.html

 

[jcpunerd]

Yes, just boot from the OS X disk (I think you hold down the C or R key on power up, it is in the manual) and re-install.

Amen-Moses

I borrowed my friends Mac OS X disc for iBook G4 (which is the same computer I have) but it is Mac OS X 10.4.2. I have 10.4.

When I tried what you recommended, it said that the installation wasn't compatible with my system.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[iWhat]

You should contact Apple to buy the restore discs. It's not possible to use your friends discs with that computer. You really need the original discs for that computer, otherwise, we are unable to help you.

 

[jcpunerd]

nevermind, problem solved. thanks anyways.