I have a IBook G4 10.5.8 with a Forgotton administrative password, and no disk

Question

My Ibook G4 is a version 10.5.8 and I have tryed the command s at the chime with many different passwords, but some how none of them seem to work. I need to do all my updates very soon, or I will no longer be able to go on most websites. I do not have a disk. i know my way around computers but I'm stumped with this one.

Answer 1

You could try calling Apple support to see about getting a nearly impossible to find replacement disc or retail equivalent generic install DVD for Leopard 10.5, for your iBook G4 powerPC computer, and you will need to have the serial number of the computer to tell them when you call. And there would be a fee for the discs. A white-label DVD in 10.4 and 10.5 was said to be available from AppleCare or Apple Support as of last year, for a fee per disc.
contact apple support http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57
The link above to reset password without installer DVD for Snow Leopard 10.6 & before may work. Other items noted are for later intel hardware and software that supersede the rather vintage iBook PPC G4.
Of the iBook G4 that could run Leopard 10.5.8, (processors over 800MHz speed) the last ones shipped with a Tiger 10.4.x on special install-restore disc set, one with applications, the other with the system installer & hardware test. The discs said to be available do not offer the applications usally on the restore disc that were not part of the main OS X set of system applications. For example, AppleWorks may have been included with the iBook G4 in its own Tiger system install set; not in the retail Tiger disc set. A replacement disc set of just the system 10.4 or 10.5 would not include the 'extras from the computer kit' it had when new.
•But you may be able to get a disc. Or at least ask, given info shared in ASC via these two links that does a show & tell (one has images of white-label install discs, the other has other info about them)...
see:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/20995965#20995965
'Restore Tiger 10.4 & Leopard 10.5  DVDs are available from Apple by
calling 800-767-2775 as of January 20, 2013. Collect your Mac's serial
number.  Prepare you credit card for a workout. There is a reasonable fee.'
see:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/24379733#24379733
If Apple does not have any system discs to restore or install Leopard 10.5, then you'd be looking at more pedestrian places such as ebay or amazon, or maybe a product specialist who fixes and resells older Mac portables online or in a store, may know.
So you know the need for a system disc that supports the computer would be a necessity to perform routine maintenance repair and restore, and that would be in the form of a DVD. There is no download of the full OS X for these older computers, only step updates; and few sources for the correct disc.
Hopefully this helps...
Good luck & happy computing!
PS: browsers such as TenFourFox, iCab, SeaMonkeyPPC, are available.
What other updates were you needing to find for your 10.5.8 in iBook?
edited 2x