Trying to make a new password without a disc

Question

So I bought a used macbook and the guy who sold me it, didn't send any discs and I can't get any updates on it. I've tried using the this code to get a new one...
1. Hold Down Apple+S while booting computer
2. Type: sh /etc/rc
3. Type: passwd root (if that doesn’t work try admin or administrator instead of root)
4. Enter in new password and confirm
5. Type: reboot
But when i type the password in, nothing at all shows up. And when I try to type it in when I update my software it just says "wrong password". So am I doing something wrong? Is there a more effiecent way of doing this? Thanks.

Answer 1

Here's several methods (copied from prior posts) to reset the password without the install disc:
1. boot computer and hold the "apple" key and the "s" key.
2. wait for terminal show
3. release keys
4. type without the quotes: "/sbin/mount -uaw"
5. press enter
6. type without the quotes: "rm /var/db/.applesetupdone
7. press enter
8. type without the quotes: "reboot"
9. press enter
This will let you create a new admin account when you reboot your computer.
Also, without the discs, look at Mac OS X Tip - No Password, No Root, No CD? No Problem.
http://www.macobserver.com/tip/2003/06/16.1.shtml
Here is a way to get around not knowing the admin password on Macs.
To reset your OS X password without an OS X CD you need to enter terminal and create a new admin account:
1. Reboot
2. Hold apple + s down after you hear the chime.
3. When you get text prompt enter in these terminal commands to create a brand new admin account (hitting return after each line):
* mount -uw /
* rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
* shutdown -h now
4. After rebooting you should have a brand new admin account. When you login as the new admin you can simply delete the old one and you’re good to go again!
 Cheers, Tom