Forums
New posts
Articles
Product Reviews
Policies
FAQ
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Apple Computing Products:
macOS - Desktop Hardware
G4 Power Mac: Booting into Single User?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="mbgaski" data-source="post: 391447" data-attributes="member: 31056"><p>Ok, I just purchased a used Mac G4 from a Pawn Shop. From what I've been able to determine of the specs, it's a G4 Gigabit, with Dual Processors, a DVD-RAM Drive, and a Zip drive. Not bad for $120.</p><p></p><p>The problem is, it boots up to a login prompt and I have no passwords. The shop has no idea what they are.</p><p></p><p>So, I found some instructions on how to reset, but I have to boot into single user mode. I don't have an original Mac keyboard though - only PC USB's. They seem to work fine for typing on it (well, I can only get to the login prompt <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />), but I can't figure out how to make it boot single-user. Is this even possible with a PC keyboard? </p><p></p><p>Thanks.</p><p></p><p>EDIT: Well, I fixed my own issue <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />. Not sure why, but my logitech keyboard (which ironically has the Mac symbols printed on it in addition to the PC ones) flat out wouldn't boot into Single user, but when I plugged in an old SGI usb keyboard I had it worked fine. Was able to boot single user, reset the system so that I created a new account, and then login. Specs are a Dual 500mhz G4, DVD-RAM, Zip Drive, 256MB of RAM, and a 40GB hard drive. I might try to "soup it up" a bit later, but given that all I wanted to do was try out a mac and see how I like it, I think the $120 was well spent <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="mbgaski, post: 391447, member: 31056"] Ok, I just purchased a used Mac G4 from a Pawn Shop. From what I've been able to determine of the specs, it's a G4 Gigabit, with Dual Processors, a DVD-RAM Drive, and a Zip drive. Not bad for $120. The problem is, it boots up to a login prompt and I have no passwords. The shop has no idea what they are. So, I found some instructions on how to reset, but I have to boot into single user mode. I don't have an original Mac keyboard though - only PC USB's. They seem to work fine for typing on it (well, I can only get to the login prompt :)), but I can't figure out how to make it boot single-user. Is this even possible with a PC keyboard? Thanks. EDIT: Well, I fixed my own issue :). Not sure why, but my logitech keyboard (which ironically has the Mac symbols printed on it in addition to the PC ones) flat out wouldn't boot into Single user, but when I plugged in an old SGI usb keyboard I had it worked fine. Was able to boot single user, reset the system so that I created a new account, and then login. Specs are a Dual 500mhz G4, DVD-RAM, Zip Drive, 256MB of RAM, and a 40GB hard drive. I might try to "soup it up" a bit later, but given that all I wanted to do was try out a mac and see how I like it, I think the $120 was well spent :). [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Apple Computing Products:
macOS - Desktop Hardware
G4 Power Mac: Booting into Single User?
Top