Changing administrator name and password

I need to make several changes to my computer. However, I don't know/remember the administrator name and password to my computer and I am the administrator! It's been a long time since I set up my laptop (I bought it and set it up on 12/31/07). It's a black MacBook, OS 10.5 aka Leopard.
What do I do?
I ask that you be as specific as possible when suggesting a solution.

I don't think you want to change the administrator name. It's also impossible to forget it. It's the name in Finder right under Places, assuming you are the administrator.
What you want to do is reset the admin password which you can to by using the Leopard DVD that came with your computer.
Boot into the DVD and hold down the "C" key with DVD inserted. After language screen, menu top left under Utilities you will find the proper item. Just follow the instructions.
Message was edited by: nerowolfe

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How to change administrator name and password?

I have macbook pro laptop which my father bought in china. App Store ask for a administrator name and password when i install anysoftware or updates.
Please help me how to solve this problem.

It would appear that your User Account is not an administrative account.
Can you log out, and see what other accounts are availalbe to chose from?

Type an Administrator Name and Password to allow lpadmin to make changes.

We have a lab full of PowerPC G5 Towers running 10.5 off a PowerPC G5 tower running 10.5 Server. We are using Open Directory and AFP to allow students to login to Network Accounts from Local Workstations. After Archive and Installing two of the G5 Machines and updating them, We encountered the error "Type an Administrator Name and Password to allow lpadmin to make changes." and it freezes up and doesn't allow us to enter the password or username or even move the mouse.

To use the solution in the link above in this case, here's one way to go about things:
- Restart while holding down command and s at the same time to boot into single-user mode.
- Use the following commands to mount the filesystem (these are also listed on the screen when you start up):
$ /sbin/fsck -fy
$ /sbin/mount -uw /
- You're going to need the root password, so if you haven't already set one, type 'passwd', hit return, and set one.
- Load Directory Services:
$ launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.DirectoryServices.plist
- Run the command mentioned in that other post, entering your root password when prompted:
$ dseditgroup -o edit -p -a admin -t group _lpadmin
- You may need to run it twice, because the first time it may say something about upgrading your groups or something like that.
I hope that helps. It worked for me on multiple machines affected by this problem.
Greg

How do i change the administrator name and password when i forgot both of them

how do i change the administrator name and password when i forgot both of them?

Find the user name and then reset the password.
Start the computer,then press and hold down command and R keys to start into recovery partition.
When you see the Apple logo, release the keys.
Wait until OS X Utilities window shows up.
Move the mouse to the menubar at the top and click "Utilities", then select "Terminal"
from the drop down.
Terminal window will appear.
Type in resetpassword and press enter on the keyboard.
Leave the Terminal window open.
Reset Password Utility window will open with Macintosh HD selected.
Select the user account from the popup menu box under “Select user account”.
Note down the user account name.
Enter a new password.
Reenter the new password for the user.
Note it down.
Enter a hint.
Click the "Save" button.
Click  in the menubar and select Restart.
Log in.
If Keychain dialog box appears, select “Create New Keychain”.

How do I change the administrator name and password?

I am trying to put some needed applications on my G3 Lombards and it won't let me because the previous administrator of the computer failed to erase all of his info before I bought it.
How do I change the administrator name and password?
This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen yet.
Please help. FAST
Edited by an Apple Discussions Host

Robert:
May I strongly urge you to get a set of installer CDs. They will come in handy as you need them for much more than just installing the OS. From time to time, e.g. you may need to boot from the installer disk to Repair Disk (you can Repair Disk Permissions from Disk Utility on the HDD, but to Repair Disk, you must boot from a different volume). And if you had installer CDs changing the password and creating a new Admin Account would be a breeze.
You can get universal installer disks at applerescue. Another option in your situation is to do a complete re-install. That will not only enable you to create your own admin account, but it will automatically change the computer short name. However, for that you need installer disks.
Meanwhile, <a href=""http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=121786&tstart=0>here is another article that should help.
Good luck.
cornelius
Message was edited by: cornelius

Administrator name and password

I can't download any new software or make any changes on my computer because that requires an administrator name and password. Somehow, I am only a standard user on my computer and I am the only account on the computer (besides system administrator (root). I've used my install disc multiple times to change my password, but that doesn't work when I enter my user name and the new password when the computer asks for an administrator name and password. It just says password is invalid and administrator name and password is required. any warranty and technical support has expired and I'm at a loss at what to do. I really need to download new software and need to somehow recover the original administrator name and password and change my standard user account to an administrator account. I'd appreciate any help or advice!

Hello,
dell Windows XP
Your situation isn't clear. If you are asking about an Apple product you should change your profile to reflect this, and then start your own thread, providing more details. If you are running Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and have a question about a user account, go to this page:
http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=1220
and click on "Post New Topic"

Administrator name and password unable to be found or remembered. cannot update certain software without it. HELP!!!!

cannot install maverick o x without administrator name and password. cannotremember and cannot locate anywhere. HELP!!!

Your username is the foldername you will find under your /Users/accountname/ folder. This is the one with the house icon on it. To change your password see:
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,
     and 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
For Snow Leopard and earlier without installer DVD
    How to reset your Mac OS X password without an installer disc | MacYourself

Host requires administrator name and password

I just updated a program on my Mac. It is giving me a message "this host requires an administrator name and password". The username and password I have always used are not working. It is telling me "invalid username or password". Any ideas on this? I have nevr had this issue before.

Hello,
dell Windows XP
Your situation isn't clear. If you are asking about an Apple product you should change your profile to reflect this, and then start your own thread, providing more details. If you are running Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and have a question about a user account, go to this page:
http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=1220
and click on "Post New Topic"

Forgotten administrator name and password for parental controls

hi. I've forgotten my administrator name and password for parental controls on my childs school macbook air. it has latest update and operating systems.

You are the administrator, so you should look at the name associated with your /Users/user_name/ folder or Home folder.
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

How do I change admin name and password on install for PS 7.0 for Mac

I have an old 7.0 full photoshop disc from a business that closed a couple of years ago. When I try and install it asks for a administrator name and password. The person who used to work for the company and install the programs on our computers is no longer around. Is there I way I can bypass this or change the name and password so I can install Photoshop on my new Mac laptop? Thank you.

Change the password with your OS X install disk. See
here for details.
J

Need help with administrator name and password

I was messing around on my macbook awhile ago and tried to change around my adminstrator name and now whenever I try to update I can't because the administrator name is wrong. I've tried setting it to different things but it never works. How do I re-set my administrator name and password so i can update?!

Follow the instructions in this FAQ to regain administrator access to the computer. If there is an Open Firmware password set on the machine, the method documented will not work and you won't be able to resolve this issue on your own; in this case, take it to a retail Apple Store or other AASP.
(19627)

How can I reset my Administrator name and password?

I need to change my parental controls to allow videos off Facebook. How do I reset my administrator name and password as I have forgotten them?

Ask the person who set the parental controls to change them for you.

What if I don't remember my administrator name and password

How Do I change my administrator name and password?

Your admin "name" is the filename you find under the user folder in your /Users/ folder. For the password see:
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

I have changed the name and password for my Time Capsule and now the Time Machine will not connect

Mac Book Pro
1TB Time Capsule.
Yesterday I changed the name and password on my time capsule and also the name and password of the wifi network as I was having problems with the speed of the internet when using Safari on any of my devices (1 Macbook pro, 1 macbook air, 27" iMac, iPhone and iPad) all other internet services were working fine (email etc.) This seems to have solved the problem.
However, since then, my time machine back ups will not reconnect and there is no option for me to reconnect to the existing back up for my macbook pro.
When I enter the time machine preferences it shows as below that there are no back ups.
Then, when I go to select a drive to use which should be the MacBook under the Backup disks the only option is for me to Remove Disk...
So, my question is, how do I reconnect to an existing Time Machine back up for my MacBook pro as I really do not want to erase and start all over again.
Warning - In my naiveté, I did click on the MacBook in 'Available Disks' but I got the impression that it was about to start a whole new back up and not work with the existing one.
(And does anybody have an inkling as to why there was a problem with Safari on all my devices? I downloaded Google Chrome and that worked fine).

Simply reset the Time Machine.
See A4 here http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
You can then mount the TC disk in finder after you reboot the computer.
You should be able to reselect the TC disk and then it will say it is going to start a new backup.
Ignore this.. when the TM actually loads the TC disk it will discover the existing backup and continue the backup.. but it will give no hint until it actually starts that it won't start a new backup. you just have to believe it won't.. and mostly it works..
Please also install the widget A1 so you have some idea what TM is doing.

I'm trying to download an app that is not from the app store and it needs my administrations name and password

I need help, I want to download the app called 'popcorn time' from online. I know it has no side effects because my friend has used this app for a number of years on her mac computer. I found it on the internet and have nearly downloaded it but my security system won't let me I followed the instructions to get the security system to make an exception for this app but at the end of the instructions it has a log-in pop up that says "OS X is trying to allow an item to always run. Type an administrator's name and password to allow this." I don't know what it means by an administrators name and password I typed my apple ID but this didn't work. I checked if i had the right password and i did and i have tried it multiple times but it still doesn't work this is very frustrating and I need to fix it

Answered in the other thread you posted in:
i am trying to download new software and my mac keeps asking for the administrator name and password... i enter my apple…
Please don't post in more than one place. It can lead to people wasting their time answering a question which has already been answered elsewhere.

Changing administrator name and password

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