Admin account switched to standard with Lepard instal, please help!!

Question

I'll try to make this quick and easy. I have a mac mini that came with 10.4.5. I continuously performed updates and had no problems until July. In July my computer completely crashed so I reinstalled 10.4.5. After the install I could not get the updates to work, I even went back and tried the the first update for 10.4.5. (Important note) at this time my admin account was still active and working. So with the computer not updating I decided to install Leopard. The Leopard update was successful except for the fact that my admin account was changed to a standard account. This is where the problems really starts. Please keep in mind that I have weeks of research into my problem and every solution I've tried so far has not worked. Here are just a few examples of what I have tried. I have tried to enable the root user through directory utility, accounts, 10.4.5 install disk utility reset password and a couple of other methods that I cant think of off the top of my head. Now hear are the problems I'm having. Some of the enable root options require an admin account and password. Other enable root options require that I go to certain files or folders to enable the root but with this option I don't have that file or folder and/or it does not work due to the fact that my computer is 10.4.5 and not 10.5 and newer. Now the last couple of options require that I run the install disc to reset password or that I trash everything and start from new. The problem with this is I can't get the install disk to run. I have tried to insert the disk, click on the install icon but it requires an admin name and password to preform a restart. I have kept the install disk in the drive and have performed restart and shut down/power up from the apple menu. I have powered down and back up with the power button. Now keep in mind that I have tried every option without holding down the "C" key and with holding down the "C" key with no results. So to sum this last bit up, no matter how I try to restart the computer the install disk will not run and my computer will boot up like normal and bring me to the desk top. One more note, I have tried all the restart options with the 10.4.5 disk and the leopard disc. At this point I want to start from scratch and perform an install of 10.4.5. At this point it does not mater if I loose everything since it is all backed up on an external HD. Please help I am open to all ideas and options.
Thanks, Dan

Answer 1

Dan, does it stat in Single User Mode? If so, we can get a new admin User.
applesetupdone...
This was Posted by: JoseAranda at September 9, 2006 3:48 AM
"OK, restart your computer, hold down Command-s and type in the following:
/sbin/fsck -fy Enter
/sbin/mount -uaw Enter
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone Enter
# The rm command is the remove command which deletes the file.
# Robert: I'd rename the file via: mv /var/db/.applesetupdone /var/db/.applesetupdone.old
reboot Enter
Once you've done that the computer reboots and it's like the first time you used the machine. Your old accounts are all safe. From there you just change all other account passwords in the account preferences!!
end of posted by: JoseAranda"
Reset OS X Password Without an OS X CD...
http://theappleblog.com/2008/06/22/reset-os-x-password-without-an-os-x-cd/