Resetting a forgotten Administrator Password

I'm helping a friend who has an iMAC G5 which currently runs Mac OS X 10.4.8, (Tiger), and has forgotten his administrator password. The original discs for this machine are Tiger Mac OS X 10.2.3. We've already tried using the install disc (disc 1). We put the disc in and restarted the system, holding down the C key when the tone was heard and continued to hold it until the spinning gear appeared. It seems to load the CD because we could hear it grind as the system started up and we noticed small file-folder icons appear in the center of the screen with a question mark, but eventually it seemed to load the OS from teh hard drive and started as usual, with a Finder window open browsing the CD. From everything we've read, we should have instead seen the installation program where we'd have the chance to reset the administrator password. Can anyone offer some advice? Thanks!

Hi LLApple, and a warm welcome to the forums!
Yes, you should've sen the Installer, but...
I wouldn't try changing Tiger's Passwords with a Jaguar or Panther Install Disk at all.
Reset OS X Password Without an OS X CD...
http://theappleblog.com/2008/06/22/reset-os-x-password-without-an-os-x-cd/

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Welcome to Apple Support Communities
There are different ways of resetting your user password depending on the Mac OS X version you are running. Open  > About this Mac, and tell me which OS X version you are running.
If it's 10.6 or older, see "Resetting your original administrator account password" > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274
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If you can access the Web*, try this link: http://en.kioskea.net/forum/affich-73393-change-mac-admin-password-without-the-d isk
Caveat: not tried by me.
* I assume you have Web access because you posted here.

How to Reset Windows 7 Administrator Password on My Laptop

I have windows 7 Home Premium and i forgot the administrator password. whenever i start the windows 7, it asks for the password to log in. unfortunately, i forgot it. what to do?
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In your
your situation,you can recover your password form Safe Mode.Windows 7 system has a built-in administrator account that is created during Windows installation and disable by default, which has no password in it. You need to enable that account before forgetting
your other admin account password. Otherwise your built-in administrator account won’t appear in the screen in this tip.
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Hi. I have an imac 10.5.8 which been in storage for a year or so. Unfortunately I have forgotten the administrator password. I have spent most of the day in forums but am still unable to resolve the issue. I would like to either use terminal to set up a new administrator account, or preferably to use the startup disc to reset my password.
I am not able to reboot in single user mode. I must have set up firmware protection when i got the imac years ago. (I cant fix this without the administrator password.)
...so I can't open terminal or the start up disc from the login screen.
I have tried opening terminal from the guest account (the only account I can get into) and using these instructions:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3506318
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At a loss as to what to do. Would appreciate any help!
Thanks.

Maybe your are getting the firmware password? Do you see this image?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57521667-263/use-the-calculator-to-reveal-a -macs-firmware-password/
Remove one memory stick. Then do as BD suggests.
BDAqua reminds me:
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http://www.securemac.com/openfirmwarepasswordprotection.php

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res
Press the tab key. The partial command you typed will automatically be completed to this:
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Press return. A Reset Password window opens. Close the Terminal window to get it out of the way.
Select your boot volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name) if not already selected.
Select your username from the menu labeled Select the user account if not already selected.
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Select
 ▹ Restart
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*Note: If you've activated FileVault, this procedure doesn't apply. Follow instead these instructions.

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Sorry for the question but what password do you mean exactly; the Windows admin password or the BIOS password.
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It would have been useful to know what version of OS X you are running.
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For Snow Leopard or earlier: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274
For Lion or later: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6022
For Mavericks users:
http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-software/how-change-admin-password-mac-3535 328/
This is also useful:
http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipad-iphone/news/?newsid=3463233&olo=email
If it's running Mac OS X 10.6.8 or earlier, insert a Mac OS X install DVD, restart with the Option key held down, click on it, and use the Reset Password utility.
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https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4101

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KLJ4real, welcome to the forum.
The best way is to reinstall Win 7. We can't help you with a lost password beyond that option.
You can, however, run Google search for a solution.
Please click the "Thumbs up + button" if I have helped you and click "Accept as Solution" if your problem is solved.
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Reset a forgotten admin password on macbook air, Bought from a friend

I neede to reset the password on an admin account which I lost. I use macbook air version 10.8.2

Forgot Your Account Password
For Snow Leopard and earlier
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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
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Security / reset integrated website administrator password

Hi,
I'm using a HP Photosmart 7510 e-All-in-One - C311a (PMN: CQ877A, Firmware: VEP1CN1137CR).
While trying to setup the integrated website security administrator password, I used a generated 20 characters password.
After that, I was unable to login to the printer administrator settings with the same password. I also tried with the same password removing some characters at the end, one by one, just in case the printer password internal storage field got truncated to less than 20 characters.
I tried a Partial Reset, Semi-Full Reset, OOBE Reset, Full Reset (through what seems to be a blue boot menu) and Clear derivatives. None of these methods cleared the administrator password.
Is there any particular command or method that would allow me to gain back administrative access ?
Thank you,
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Hi Jay4096,
The Semi-full is the reset that would reset the password in your screenshot you provided. You will need to contact support, and let them know that the printer fails to clear the password using the Semi-full reset. You can contact our technical support at 800-474-6836. If you live outside the US/Canada Region please click the link below to get the support number for your region.
http://www.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpsupport/index.pl
I am an HP employee.
Say Thanks by clicking the Kudos Star in the post that helped you.
Please mark the post that solves your problem as "Accepted Solution"

Forgotten Administrative Password

I need to know how to reset my Administrative Password so I can update Tunes but I forgot it, how do I reset it or find it out.?

Once you fail to login you'll get the option to reset your password. You'll need access to the email account that you set up iTunes with.
Or you can click the button that says "Forgot Password".

Forgotten Administrator Password

I am trying to add a printer to my new Apple MacBook pro and it is asking me for an administrator password. I did put in a password but have forgot what it is, even with the hint. Please help

I came across an article "*What can you do if you forgot Macbook Password?*", it may help you.
Look it: http://www.macpassword.com/what-can-you-do-if-you-forgot-macbook-password.html

Re: How to reset / recover forgotten Windows password

Forgetting your Windows administrator login password.
With no way to get into the system, you can't even perform basic maintenance, let alone a thorough tune-up.
Formatting is always an option, but we consider that a last resort. (Plus, guess who's going to have to help reinstall all the programs lost after a wipe?)
But all hope is not lost.
There are a few ways to actually retrieve a lost Windows account password. Read on, and we'll show you the light.
_1st Method:_
The first thing which you check if you forget login password. When we install Windows, it automatically creates an account "Administrator" and sets its password to blank. So if you have forget your user account password then try this:
Start system and when you see Windows Welcome screen / Login screen, press ctrl+alt+del keys twice and it'll show Classic Login box. Now type "Administrator" (without quotes) in Username and leave Password field blank. Now press Enter and you should be able to log in Windows.
Now you can reset your account password from "Control Panel -> User Accounts".
Same thing can be done using Safe Mode. In Safe Mode Windows will show this in-built Administrator account in Login screen.
_2th Method:_
There are a lot of Windows password revealers and crackers available.
CIA commander:
This tool only works on NTFS partitions, but it works great! You can even use it to copy data from one place to another. But it is not for free.
http://www.datapol-technologies.com/en/Products/Business/CIACommander/main.htm
Windows password recovery tool:
but I've found that Windows Password Recovery Tool is the most effective.:
it not only supports XP, 2000, and NT, I have personally tested it with Vista Home Premium and Ultimate. It works perfectly to reset any local user account to a blank password.
http://www.windowspasswordsrecovery.com
pwdump2:
http://razor.bindview.com/tools/files/pwdump2.zip

Hi mate
Thanks for this posting.
I think it could be useful for other users who forget the Windows password and dont want to reinstall the whole OS again.
Greetings

Resetting a forgotten Administrator Password

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