System Preference - Delete the Administrator

I just purchased a used iBook and am trying to load software but the old owners Administration name and password won't let do anything of the sort. I haven't been able to contact this person and I'm excited to use it. Is there anyway to remove his account and make myself the administrator?

Adrian,
Use the install DVD/CD to reset the password
Your post is rather vague, maybe I can help. To reset the administrative password you do not need to do a clean install, or any install for that matter.
Here is what you need to do:
Insert the Tiger Install disk
Choose Reset Password from the Installer (since you have Tiger it should be under the Utilities menu)
Choose the hard disk volume (Usually Macintosh HD unless was changed by user)
Set the User name of your original administrator account
Do not select System Administrator. That is the root, the root user. This is not the same as the normal administrative account.
Enter new password and click Save.
You can find more information on changing the administrator account password in Knowledge Base Document #106156 (bottom of page)
I hope that helps,
Jon

Similar Messages

Installing the new update for OSX has stopped my trackpad from swiping between pages in Safari. Whenever I try it Safari freezes and I have to quit. I have checked system preferences and the option is checked.

ave to quit. I have checked system preferences and the option is still checked. Is anyone having the same problem?

Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J. When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder. Select Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad.plist.
Move the .plist to your desktop.
Log out/in and test. If it works okay, delete the plist from the desktop.
If the same, return the .plist to where you got it from, overwriting the newer ones.
Thanks to leonie for some information contained in this.
You might need to redo the View settings after an update.

Why does the new operating system not delete the moved files from their original location - it seems like an enormous waste of space, time and effort to clean up every file once you've moved it

Why does the new operating system not delete the moved files from their original locations - it seems like an enormous waste of space, time and effort to clean up every file once you've moved it - also, when transferring large amounts of files it becomes a very large problem remembering which files were transferred and which not.

You're going to need to be more specific, as I'm not quite sure I understand what you're talking about.
If you're referring to copying from an external hard drive or flash drive, and you want to actually move files rather than copy them, you can hold down the option key to force it to do a "move" rather than a "copy." This is not new behavior, though... the Mac OS has worked this way as long as I can recall (and I've been using it since 1984).
If you're having a problem with trying to move files from one place to another on a single drive causing them to be copied instead, that is likely because of some permissions issue preventing you from actually being able to move them.

None of the changes I make to system preference or the dock will hold after restart. I've cleared the RAM, run disk repair and reinstalled the OS. Now what?

None of the changes I make to system preference or the dock will hold after restart. I've cleared the RAM, run disk repair and reinstalled the OS. Now what?

MobileMe closed on July 31, 2012.
It is true that the only way to sync your Mac with iCloud is to upgrad. You need to be running OS X Lion 10.7.2 or higher in order to sync your Mac with iCloud. At this point, you can upgrade directly to OS X Mountain Lion from the version of OS X you are now running (10.6.8). You can purchase and download the Mountain Lion upgrade from the Mac App Store for $19.99. After upgrading you will see iCloud in System Preferences. This guide explains how to sync your Mac with iCloud after upgrading: http://www.apple.com/icloud/setup/mac.html.
Once all your devices are signed into the same iCloud account and you have turned on your iCloud data syncing, you will be able to keep them all in sync using iCloud. You will still have to sync with iTunes to manage your iTunes media such as music, movies, podcasts, etc. You will have the option to either continue backing up automatically with your computer when you sync with iTunes, or to back up your iOS devices automatically to iCloud every 24 hours (as long as they are connected to wifi and your chargers).

HT204053 I changed my AppleID in System Preferences, but the old ID comes up under iCloud and I get an error box saying my "ID or password are incorrect". How do I get rid of the old ID which now doesn't work with either my old or new password??

I changed my AppleID in System Preferences, but the old ID comes up under iCloud and I get an error box saying my "ID or password are incorrect". How do I get rid of the old ID which now doesn't work with either my old or new password??

Yes that makes sense, however have you updated it at My Apple ID before trying to change it in your system preferences > iCloud settings, you must do that first.

Refresh of BW System without deleting the source system

Hello experts
I want to know, is it possible to refresh BW system without deleting the source system.
That means I just do the renaming via BDLS and reconnect.
If I do so, do I have a post refresh activities.
According to OSS note 886102 and 184447, there are 3 scenarios:
Scenario A: You want to copy the entire system infrastructure connected by the BW source system connections (that means the entire system group).
Scenario B: You want to copy a single BW system of the group, the sourcesystem is not copied.
Scenario C: You want to replace a single sourcesystem of a BW-system with another system using a database or client copy (Example: Refresh of the OLTP consolidation system by a copy of the OLTP production system). The BW system is not copied
Assuming I use Scenario A, can I refresh BW system without deleting the source system.

Hi:
The primary source of information is the how to paper on this topic:
https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/bff13df2-0c01-0010-6ba7-bc50346a6fd8
YOu are correct, you can refreh the BI system without deleting the source system.
Thanks for any points you assign (after all, I wrote the paper!).
Best Regards -
Ron Silberstein
SAP

Have Lion, but just can't sign out in System Preferences iCloud.The application freezes

Have Lion, but just can’t sign out in System Preferences>iCloud.The application freezes

Nevermind. Reinstalled Leopard. Must have not installed Printing setup utilities properly upon first install.

Move System Preferences to the right of the Dock divider

I recently had to reinstall my system preferences b/c it stopped working for some reason. I would like to put it in my dock, but on the right side of the divider line next to the trash icon. How can I do this? I think this is where I had it before it stopped working. I know with folders I can simply drag and drop. Is there a different process for applications, specifically the system preferences?
Thanks,
Noah

Applications go to the left of the divider, files and folders to the right. If there is some particular preference you want, you can drag it to the right-hand part of the dock from the "PreferencePanes" folder in the "Library" folder in the "System" folder at the top level of your hard drive.
I don't keep System Preferences in the dock, but use the link in the Apple at the top left of the screen.

I can t use my time capsule with time machine. When I choose the disc (Data) in System Preferences, appears the color wheel and no response. Any help?

When I choose the disc (Data) in System Preferences, appears the color wheel and no response. Any help?

See > Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule
From Pondini’s excellent Information Here...
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.htm

Deleting the Administrator account.

Hello
I want to give my MacMini to a grandchild but I can't find a way of deleting the Administrator account (me). Also what would be the quickest way of deleting off all my years of work/records? By just deleting my account, if I could, would this suffice as some records were confidential?
Thank-you

IMHO unless you are going to create an admnin account for your grandchild, I would leave it there in case you need to help in the future. You could delete the home folder which would remove your confidential record but still leave your account there with an empty home folder.
If your grandchild is mature enough to handle an admin account, then you can simply erase the disk and reinstall which would wipe out everything.
Allan

How do I prevent the Window Office applications from launching when my iMAC boots or recovers from sleep? I've tried System Preferences however the Office programs are not listed?

How do I prevent the Window Office applications from launching when my iMAC boots or recovers from sleep? I've tried System Preferences however the Office programs are not listed?

lunagirl wrote:
The first 3 apps listed are not installed because I have not run the activation assistant for the Office trial that came with the T61. Add/Remove programs has only these pre-installed apps:
Microsoft Office 2003 Web Components
Microsoft Office 2007 Primary Interop Assemblies
Microsoft Office Small Business Connectivity Components
MS SQL Server 2005
MS SQL Server Native Client
MS SQL Server Setup Support Files
MS SQL Server VSS Writer
Is the activation assistant one of them?
No, AFAIK should be listed as Microsoft Office Suite Activation Assistant
Rgds,
Ahti

How can I start System Preferences from the command line?

Hello All,
I have an issue I'm not quite sure how to solve. I have been tasked within my business environment with tightening security on a Mac Leopard system and I've been granted Admin Rights to do this on a temporary basis.
The problem is as follows:
1) The original Sys Admin that set up this system is gone, no longer available.
2) He was a Dvorak Keyboard fan and set up the system for a Dvorak Keyboard.
3) The system actually has a standard Apple keyboard and is marked accordingly, i.e., qwerty (Most Users in the building have stopped using this system altogether - a terrible waste of a good system - even though some of their apps can be run normally (US style qwerty settings). The command line is useless, as is texteditor.app and a few others unless you know Dvorak layout)
5) When I open System Preferences, the Dvorak keyboard checkbox is grayed out and I cannot change it. There is no lock at the bottom of that particular screen for me to unlock.
6) Even though I select the US Keyboard at Login, and some apps work accordingly (like MatLab for example) the terminal is borderline useless. I spent over 2 hrs yesterday doing what should have been able to be done in about 30 minutes. I estimate a frustrating and mistake prone additional 8 to 10 hours to do what is normally a a 4 hour job at the command-line.
7) I do not have the time or desire to re-mark all the keys on the keyboard, particularly since it is not my call to do so, nor do I have the time to re-learn Dvorak touch-typing, and finally I do not want to re-load the entire system. I just want to change the darn keyboard to a standard qwerty keyboard that is somewhat useful in a terminal environment with vi, command line, etc. It's either that or I go mildly insane
This is frustrating as all get-out. The new Admin logged in and was able to uncheck his Dvorak settings (he is not a UNIX guy, nor is he comfortable om Macs), and we were hoping this was a system wide setting, but No. We re-booted the system, I logged in, still Dvorak, and the checkbox was still grayed out.
So I figure, short of re-loading the entre system and all the applications necesary, I can either start the Systems Preferences GUI using sudo and hopefully that will change system-wide settings, or I can delete the .AppleSetupDone file and resetup the system (if the keyboard settings are part of the setup) without spending a couple of days reloading everything and re-setting up users, networks, etc.
Needless to say, I am hoping for the easiest and quickest solution to this extremely frustrating and aggravating problem.
Thanks.

For my situation the following C# code does the job:
    Process.Start(
       @"c:\Program Files\National Instruments\CVI71\cvi.exe",
       @"c:\temp\experiment.c" );
The file must already exist.

Does anybody know how to reinstall System Preferences? I accidentaly put System Preferences in the trash and emptied the trash :P

Does anybody know how to get System Preferences? A couple of weeks ago I put it in the trash and emptied it. Does anyone know how to reinstall it?

How Restore Deleted or Missing OS X Components
A few of the basic OS X installed applications can be restored from the Optional Installs installer located in the Optional installs folder on your Installer DVD. However, if what you need is not there then follow the instructions below.
How to Use Pacifist to Restore Deleted or Missing OS X Components
Insert the OS X Installer DVD into the optical drive. Use a simple utility like TinkerTool to toggle invisibility so you can see invisible items. Alternatively, open the Terminal application in your Utilities folder and at the prompt enter the following:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles Yes
Press RETURN.
To turn off the display of invisible files repeat the above command substituting No for Yes.
The install packages are located in the /System/Installation/ folder on the DVD.
Download the shareware utility Pacifist. Use it to extract a fresh copy of the missing item(s) from the file archives on your OS X installation DVD. The file archives are in the /System/Installations/ folder (use Go to Folder option in the Go menu of the Finder.)
Here are Four Basic ways to use Pacifist (courtesy of George Orville.)
A. Drag a .pkg icon onto the Pacifist window .....proceed to step 7.
B. Click on “Open Package ....” and navigate to package desired and click “Open” in
the open/save window.....proceed to step 7.
C. Insert Mac OS X installer CD and when it mounts, navigate to .... Menu->Go->Go
to Folder. In the path field enter or paste ....
/Volumes/disc name/System/Installation/Packages (where disc name is the name of the CD/DVD that you inserted.)
Click on the "Go" button ..... • Drag a .pkg to Pacifist..... proceed to step 7.
The package you'll need will have to be discovered by trial and error, but for most applications you should start with the Essentials.pkg and/or Additional Essentials.pkg.
D. Insert your Mac OS X install disk 1 .... and open Pacifist.
1. In Pacifist, select "Open Mac OS X Install Packages" ... dialog may appear asking for disk 2, then disk 3 and finally disk 1 again.... {if DVD is not used)...If “Stop Loading” is selected...the procedure will stop!!!
2a. When loading is complete, a new window appears, click the triangle to display contents of each package...Select item and proceed to step 7.
2b. or click the “Find” icon in the Pacifist window and type the name of the software you need.
3. In the list that comes back, click the top most entry for the item that you want. ..... that is the one for the English language.
4. On the top of the Pacifist window, click “verify” .... you will probably be prompted for your password.
5. Enter checks for.... “verify permissions” and “verify file contents.” and click “verify” ....enter password when prompted.... you will get back output which may look like this:
20 files were scanned. 20 of 20 files were present on the hard disk. 0 of 20 files had file permissions that did not match those specified in the package. 0 of 20 files had checksums that did not match those specified in the package.
6. Click “close”. Go to step 7.
Extract or Install........
7. In the Toolbar (upper left), you now have the option to extract or install. Click a file in the lower list and those two icons will be enabled.
8. If “Extract to...” is selected.... navigate to the location where the file will be placed, select “choose”, select “extract” in new dialog that appears,authenicate , if prompted, click “OK”.
9. In the next dialog, click “Extract”.
10. If “Install” is selected... dialog will appear with the location/path of the installed software. Click “Install”
11. Type in your password, click “OK”
Pacifist will begin to extract files.
12. In steps 8/10ß.... you also have the choice to “cancel”
Notes: Pacifist may find that a file it is installing already exists on the hard disk. Pacifist will present you with an alert panel....
• Stop
• Leave original alone
• Update .....
• Default selection
• Replace .... (Replace option should only be used on full install packages)

How can I fix my system preferences so the system preferences window don't freeze up every time I open it?

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone knew how to fix a System Prefrences problem? Every time I try to open system prefrences I get that little color wheel over the System Prefrences window, and I am not able to change any system prefrence options or click on any options in the window. It just freezes up. I have iOS Lion 10.7.4 version on a 2012 Macbook Pro i7. Right now my screen saver is just a blank blue color, and I am unable to set any other photo from my photo library to the hpome screen picture even without going throiugh system prefrnces. I have tried Disk Utility>Verify Disk Permissions, and that did not work. I have also tried Disk Utility>Permissions Repair, and that did not work either. Can anyone tell me another option to try because I am unable to open Time Machine to repair to an earlier date because that window freezes up also. Does anyone know any other options? This Macbook Has been doing this sort of thing since I took it out of the box brand new 4 months ago, but it fixted itself before the Macbook help coverage was expired so I never bothered to call Apple about it. Now it just freezes up and never works, I can't change my system time out I cant change any system prefrences on my Macbook Pro. It really ***** bad. Also another symptom my macbook has right before this problem accours is my screen saver on my computer will automatically be swithched to that Galaxy screen saver all the sudden when I turn my computer on then when I go to change the screen save back to a picture I had on my computer the system prefrences just freeze up. Please let me know if you know what I can do. Thanks.
Also I am Unable to open Dock Preferences and i get the frozen screen color wheel Just like on System Preferences.
J
Message was edited by: skybluguy76

Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ If you’re running Mac OS X 10.7 or later, open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the page that opens.
Click the Clear Display icon in the toolbar. Try the action again. Post any messages that appear in the Console window – the text, please, not a screenshot.
Important: Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Edit it out by search-and-replace in a text editor before posting.

I want to down load the pages ap on my mac but it is in a different langauge in the system preferences ion the computer is english however I can not read the ap info how do I make it english?

Hello how can I make an application for a mac be in English it is in another langauge and my main menu system preferences is in english I am unable to buy pages ap until it is in English as I can not understand it?

Make sure you are purchasing from the appropirate App Store.
Click Categories from the menu top of the App Store window.
Now click the round flag icon bottom right corner of the window to select the correct country.
By the way, your credit or debit card credentials must be associated with the same country where you reside in order to make purchases.
"Although you can browse the iTunes Store in any country without being signed in, you can only purchase content from the iTunes Store for your own country. This is enforced via the billing address associated with your credit card or other payment method that you use with the iTunes Store, rather than your actual geographic location."
From here > The Complete Guide to Using the iTunes Store | iLounge Article < same for Mac App Store.

System Preference - Delete the Administrator

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for