Can't reset admin password with startup disc

I inherited my eMac when my roomate left for the road. I am not able to get in touch with him and I need to change the administrator password. I have the Mac OS X 10.4.6 discs and when i try to restart from the discs, I get a grey screen with coding on it. I see the word panic somewhere in the code. Is there any way i can reset this password with these discs?

Read > http://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4101 That user tip will show you how to reset the password. You will lose the keychain after resetting your password

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Resetting admin password with install disc

Hi. I am using 10.4.7. I do not know the admin password - the computer belonged to a deceased relative. I want to change the password so I can install programs etc. I have the install disc, but when I click on the Install icon in order to change the password, it asks me for my admin password.
I have looked at several topics about this and have not seen this problem addressed. Any help would be greatly appreciated - I am not used to Macs! Thanks.

Hi mluthin, and a warm welcome to the forums & Macs!
Boot up while holding the Option key down until you see the boot manager, do you see this...
Firmware password protection in Mac OS X ...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352
It would block usage of all the startup keys, like C, N, T, D, CMD+s, CMDOption+pr, CMD +v, Option, and Shift, as well as booting from anything but the Hard Drive.
Finally which exact model of Mac is this?

Forgotten admin password with no disc!

I have forgotten my admin password on my iMac and i dont have the disc to reset it, what can I do???

tzbikowski wrote:
You need to google it as such link may be considered inappropriate for this forum.
Not.

Can't reset Admin Password

bought computer ibook g4 for wife who forgot admin password. I believe it's
the password I was asked before I could install additional software. I followed
reset instructions: 1) insert 10.4.2 install disk 2) restart computer
3) hold down "c" key when startup sounds, release when wheel spinning
at this point "installer" should appear where I would click Utilities and
reset password. Instead, the disk loads, where I tried clicking applications>
utilities>reset password and get message "you cannot reset password this way"
As you might gather by reading this email, I am a novice. Any advise before I
pay Apple to reset my password? Thanks so much!

Hi,
are you able to boot from the CD? What do you mean by "the disk loads"?
How many accounts do you have on this computer? If only one, I assume that you have it set up for automatic login.
If everything else fails and you don't mind creating a new account on this computer, then follow this procedure
Restart holding command+s
type: /sbin/mount -uaw
type: rm /var/db/.applesetupdone
type: reboot
This will delete the file that is created the first time you turn on your computer and you get the "Welcome" movie. It won't do anything to what is already in your account, it'll just create a new admin account (you'll be able to choose a an admin password at that point). When you create the new admin account, make sure that you choose a login and shortname DIFFERENT than those of the account you've forgotten the password of.
Then you just need to log onto that new account, go to System preferences, select Accounts, select your wife's account and you'll be able to reset the password from there.
Good luck. Let me know how it goes.

I cannot reset admin password with disk mac os x

holding down command and s keys was not successful resetting admin password

For v10.6 and earlier > OS X: Changing or resetting an account password

Resetting admin password sans startup disk

Hi! I have an iMac G5 (non intel) that I stopped using about three years ago after we got laptops. I change my passwords frequently and now I can only log into my son's account. I need to reset the admnin password for the whole thing and the only tutorial I saw needed the startup disk and the only one I have is the one for my laptop. Does anyone know how to fix this?

JackNordic,
Mac OS X 10.6 requires a Mac computer with an Intel processor.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/specs.html

I can't reset my password with the apple id, apple id unknown !

all in the title

This usually means that the appleid is not there anymore.
By this I mean you may have changed it unknowningly
If you had a non email address username and have edited you account recently more than likely it has updated your apple id to that email address (user login).
Or you have changed your prmiary email address and it has now changed your apple id to that as you login username.

How do i reset admin password. no disc but system automativally logs me in as administrator and can access root user mode

I recenly got this macbook, MA&00LL/A, max OS X, V:10.4.11, 2GHz IntelCore 2 duo, 2GHz, When I power up it automatically logs me on as administrator but prompts for password when I try to access/change certain features. I got the macbook from my cousin who has forgot password and has lost disc. I can access root user mode but as iam unfamiliar with apple I am hesitant to delete anything without making things worse. Is their anyway I can reset this admin password without the disc or simply delete this user and reconfigure system as myself as administrator. step by step instructions would be appreciated at this stage till i familiarize myself more. Any help would be greatly appreciated. If it came down to buying a disc, how much roughly do these cost??? thanks again

If you don't have your install disks you can get the 10.4 gray disks by calling Apple Store Customer Service at 1-800-676-2775 They can send them to you for about $16 per disk plus S & H. Just give them your serial number and they'll know which ones you need.
To find your serial number go to the Apple in the upper left corner and select About This Mac, then click on More Info, the System Profiler will then come up. The Serial Number (System) is down near the bottom of the Hardware Overview list.
If you don't have your install disc handy,then follow these steps
1. Start up in single-user mode (hold Command-S as thecomputer starts up).
2. Type: mount -uw /
3. Press Return.
4. Type this: passwd (user's short name) Replace "(user's shortname)" with the short name of the user account whose password you wish to reset. If you are not sure what the account name is, you can get a list of usernames by typing: ls /Users
5. Press Return.
6. Enter a new user password.
7. Press Return.
8. Type: reboot
9. Press Return.

I've had my iMac put away for about a year, now I can not remember the admin password upon startup. And I don't have the installation cd's (of course)! Is there any way to re-boot, re-do, get into my Mac to change it. I don't remember it even w/ the hint

I've had my iMac put away for about a year, now I can not remember the admin password upon startup. And I don't have the installation cd's (of course)! Is there any way to re-boot, re-do, get into my Mac to change it. I don't remember it even w/ the hint

Call Apple with the Serial and they will send you the ones that came with the Mac. Or search the Net.

A friend created 3 accounts on his iPhone 5 but forgot the passwords. He can't reset the password as yahoo address is no longer valid. Erasing the phone doesn't solve the issue. How to register the phone with Apple?

A computer illiterate friend created 3 accounts on his iPhone 5 but forgot the passwords. He can't reset the password as his yahoo address is no longer valid. Erasing the phone doesn't solve the issue as the Apple server identifies the hardware as registered. How to register the phone with Apple?
I helped him create a new email address and new iCloud account on my Mac but when we try to register the phone with Apple it says: Maximim accounts limit reached for this device. How can he register the phone? I read different threads and found out that only Apple care can do that. We're in Romania and don't know where to call. Any suggestions on how we fix this?

When I checked the support site for Romania, you apparently don't have an Apple Care contact center. You "may" try calling the US Apple care number to verify the account and have the password reset sent to a different email address. 800-694-7466

Help with resetting admin password

I am trying to reset my friend's admin password with a 10.3.4 software install cd for emac and the coputer does not seem to recognize the cd at all. I tried to restart the computer and hold down the c button but nothing happened. I am just totally confused.

I am trying to reset my friend's admin password with a 10.3.4 software install cd for emac and the coputer does not seem to recognize the cd at all. I tried to restart the computer and hold down the c button but nothing happened. I am just totally confused.

Resetting admin password. Please help!!

My friend has a G4 ibook with mac osx 10.3.8 installed, unfortunately he has forgotten his password and this prevents him from installing any software now. I have read the support pages from apple which state i should use the installation disc of the original mac os x. This has unfortunately been lost. I have tried with a newer installation disc "tiger" and this does not work. Can anyone help me.
Thanks

Alan....try the following.....
Reset Admin Password ..... using Terminal
1. Type.... passw < return>
2. It'll prompt for the...... “old password” <return>
3. Type..... “new password” <return>
4. Retype ...... “password” <return>
Changing the password in this way has the same effect as changing through "System Preferences".
Reset Admin Password .... using Single User Mode
Hold down (command+S) at startup, you will be presented with a black screen containing a bunch of code... this is called....... Single-User Mode
Type.....
sudo passwd username <return> ... or ...
/usr/bin/passwd username <return>
Type your already existing ..... “old password” <return>
Type in a new...... “password” and verify
Type... reboot <return>
george

How to reset admin password iMac

I changed my IMac admin password and have now forgotten in and can't find my originàl discs to reset it. I understand you can reset it using apple ID but I can't work it out. Can someone help me

Forgot Your Account Password
For Snow Leopard and earlier
     Mac OS X 10.6- If you forget your administrator password
For Lion/Mountain Lion
    Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
     When the menubar appears select Terminal from the Utilities menu.
     Enter resetpassword at the prompt and press RETURN. Follow
     instructions in the dialog window that will appear.
     Or see Reset a Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Password and
     OS X Lion- Apple ID can be used to reset your user account password.
If you are unable to boot from an installer DVD:
(these will only work on Leopard or earlier)
1. Boot to Safe Mode by restarting and after the chime press and hold down
      the COMMAND-S keys until a black screen with white type appears.
2. At the prompt, type the following commands pressing return after each
      command line:
     /sbin/fsck -yf
     If you do not receive a "Filesystem OK" message then repeat this command
     until you do. If after seven tries you still do not receive a "Filesystem OK"
     message, then the system is corrupted and needs to be reinstalled.
     mount -uw /
     cd /private/var/db/netinfo
     mv local.nidb local.old
     rm ../.AppleSetupDone
     shutdown -r now
The second-to-last command above will cause OS X to think that the operating system is newly installed, and when the new owner starts up the computer it will send him/her to the startup wizard where he/she can start a new user without reinstalling.
This last method does not actually change a password. It simply removes the user accounts and lets you create an initial admin account as if the computer were new out of the box.
Reset Admin Password Using The Terminal
You can reset the password by printing out (or writing down) and carefully following these steps.
First, find the short name of the admin user on the machine. The easiest way of doing this is by looking at what the directory is called in the Users folder.
Now, start in Single-user Mode. It should boot into a command line.
Enter these exact lines. Press RETURN after each.
mount -uw /
ifconfig lo0 up
cd /var/db/netinfo
netinfod -s local
Now you'll need that short name. Enter "passwd", a space, and the short name of the admin. For example, if the admin was rather prosaically called "imadmin", you would enter "passwd imadmin".
The computer will now prompt you to change the password for "lmadmin" (or whatever the short name was). Go ahead and enter a new password.
Now, enter:
sync
reboot
and the machine will reboot. The admin password should now be changed.

Lost GlassFish admin password# how to reset admin password

Hi
i lost admin password in glassfish(     GlassFish Server Open Source Edition 3.1.1 (build 12) ) application server
key-file stored in glassfish-3.1.1\glassfish\domains\domain1\config\admin-keyfile
how i can reset admin password?

Forgot Your Account Password
For Lion, Mountain Lion, or Mavericks
    Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
     When the menubar appears select Terminal from the Utilities menu.
     Enter resetpassword at the prompt and press RETURN. Follow
     instructions in the dialog window that will appear.
     Or see:
       Reset a Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Password
       OS X Mountain Lion- Reset a login password,
       OS X Mavericks- Solve password problems,
       OS X Lion- Apple ID can be used to reset your user account password.
For Snow Leopard and earlier with installer DVD
     Mac OS X 10.6- If you forget your administrator password,
     OS X- Changing or resetting an account password (Snow Leopard and earlier).
For Snow Leopard and earlier without installer DVD
    How to reset your Mac OS X password without an installer disc | MacYourself
    Reset OS X Password Without an OS X CD — Tech News and Analysis
    How To Create A New Administrator Account - Hack Mac

Resetting Administrative Password without startup disk

Away from my home, attempting to access Macbook Pro administrative settings. Forgot password and unable to gain access without my startup disk. Wondering if there is a way around this or a way to reset password.

Forgot Your Account Password
For Snow Leopard and earlier
     Mac OS X 10.6- If you forget your administrator password
For Lion/Mountain Lion
    Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
     When the menubar appears select Terminal from the Utilities menu.
     Enter resetpassword at the prompt and press RETURN. Follow
     instructions in the dialog window that will appear.
     Or see Reset a Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Password and
     OS X Lion- Apple ID can be used to reset your user account password.
If you are unable to boot from an installer DVD:
(these will only work on Leopard or earlier)
1. Boot to Safe Mode by restarting and after the chime press and hold down
      the COMMAND-S keys until a black screen with white type appears.
2. At the prompt, type the following commands pressing return after each
      command line:
     /sbin/fsck -yf
     If you do not receive a "Filesystem OK" message then repeat this command
     until you do. If after seven tries you still do not receive a "Filesystem OK"
     message, then the system is corrupted and needs to be reinstalled.
     mount -uw /
     cd /private/var/db/netinfo
     mv local.nidb local.old
     rm ../.AppleSetupDone
     shutdown -r now
The second-to-last command above will cause OS X to think that the operating system is newly installed, and when the new owner starts up the computer it will send him/her to the startup wizard where he/she can start a new user without reinstalling.
This last method does not actually change a password. It simply removes the user accounts and lets you create an initial admin account as if the computer were new out of the box.
Reset Admin Password Using The Terminal
You can reset the password by printing out (or writing down) and carefully following these steps.
First, find the short name of the admin user on the machine. The easiest way of doing this is by looking at what the directory is called in the Users folder.
Now, start in Single-user Mode. It should boot into a command line.
Enter these exact lines. Press RETURN after each.
mount -uw /
ifconfig lo0 up
cd /var/db/netinfo
netinfod -s local
Now you'll need that short name. Enter "passwd", a space, and the short name of the admin. For example, if the admin was rather prosaically called "imadmin", you would enter "passwd imadmin".
The computer will now prompt you to change the password for "lmadmin" (or whatever the short name was). Go ahead and enter a new password.
Now, enter:
sync
reboot
and the machine will reboot. The admin password should now be changed.

Can't reset admin password with startup disc

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