Mac OS 8.5.x Problem

[evopanop]

Hey all,

I just recently bought a B&W G3 off of eBay. I just got it today and when I powered it up, lo and behold, it was apparently owned by a highschool. There are several normal and admin accounts already setup, and I really want to upgrade the computer to OS X; but, I don't believe I can actually change anything without access to the admin account(s). Does anyone know a possible work-around for this? Anyway I can just boot from the OS X CD, because I can't seem to figure out how to for the life of me, or possibly get access to the admin accounts without the passwords. Any help you guys could give me would be great.

Thanks, in advance.

Also, please keep in mind that I'm a Mac n00b, and this is my frist Mac, lol.

 

[Badger]

When you start up from the OS X install CD you select Options and then Erase and Install. That will format the hard disk before installing OS X. The formating will remove everything on the HD, regardless of passwords. Personally, I'm surprised that a school would sell a computer without removing sensitive files.

 

[evopanop]

When you start up from the OS X install CD you select Options and then Erase and Install. That will format the hard disk before installing OS X. The formating will remove everything on the HD, regardless of passwords. Personally, I'm surprised that a school would sell a computer without removing sensitive files.

Kinda surprised me, as well. One problem with your idea, though... for some reason when the hard drive wasn't plugged-in, it was able to boot from the OS X CD just fine, but now that the hard drive is plugged in and everything it's having trouble booting from it. It just sits there with a little icon of a disk and then flashes to a disk with a question mark on it. Also, when I try to just boot up normally without the CD in, now, it just sits there with a little icon of an older mac with a smiley face, and doesn't seem to do anything.

Any ideas what the problem could be? Also, thanks for the info.

 

[Badger]

Are you holding down the C key while booting from the OS X CD? That will force the computer to boot from the CD. Then you should be able to install X.
The disk with the ? indicates that there is no working system on the HD. If the HD was disconnected then the computer will start from the CD because it searches for functional systems. Without the HD connected it would shift to the CD automatically.

 

[evopanop]

Are you holding down the C key while booting from the OS X CD? That will force the computer to boot from the CD. Then you should be able to install X.
The disk with the ? indicates that there is no working system on the HD. If the HD was disconnected then the computer will start from the CD because it searches for functional systems. Without the HD connected it would shift to the CD automatically.

Alrighty, I was finally able to get it all up and running and now it's working just fine. Thanks for the help and info. Now I just need to save up and get those sound card and processor upgrades that I want, LoL.