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OS X Tip # 16
Want to change your Admin Password or have you forgotten your Admin Password in OS X and need it reset?
Follow along:
To change the OS X Admin Password if you still know the current password:
Log in to OS X (must be an administrator account)
Open System Preferences (can click on Apple menu, then – System Preferences)
Go to – > Accounts
Under My Account, make sure the administrator account you want to change is selected
Click the Change Password button
Enter the current (old) password, the new password and a password hint
Click the Change Password button
Done!
To reset the OS X Admin Password if you no longer know the current password and automatic login is turned off:
You will need the Mac OS X Installation disc.
Insert the disc. Then restart the computer and hold the C key until you see the spinning gear
When the Installer window appears onscreen, choose Utilities – Reset Password
Just follow the onscreen instructions to change the password and quit the Installer
Restart the Mac while pressing and holding down the mouse button to eject the disc (left mouse button for multi-button mouse)
Remember to change your login password in Keychain Access to match your new password or it will constantly ask for password.
Note that if an administrator has set an Open Firmware password on the Mac you will not be able to reset a lost password without the Open Firmware password . If that is also lost and needs to be reset you can shut down Mac. Open machine, move RAM chip to a different slot or remove a RAM chip and restart. This will reset Open Firmware password. Then you can proceed to above Admin Password reset.
| Tags: mac tips
I just got an ibook g4 and don’t have the disks. Is there any other way to reset the admin password?
If you don’t have the install disks, then your best bet is to buy a copy of Mac OS X, or you could try calling Apple (800 SOS-APPL) and asking for a replacement boot disk. Look for Mac OS X on eBay if you have to buy it.
Once you have the install disk, you don’t install the OS again. Just follow the instructions in this post.
Stephen Antonucci
http://www.reelsmart.com
I have an open firmware lost username and PW but the Ibook I have has built in ram. How do I reset the password on this machine.
Ibook G4
This is also my problem and yes it’s open firmware
CMD+S on boot does not work due to open firmware. I’m very limited in utilizing my 12″ Ibook G4 1.07 GHz Power PC 256 MB built-in. I don’t have the password or admin user name to the admin account. I purchased this computer through Ebay and now I’m unable to contact the seller. I even tried removing the Hard Drive. I did not replace the drive just removed it for a few hours. I read this advice online. I’ve also read to take out the Vram but I didn’t do this step. After taking this apart I wish I would have. Wow what a chore to get to the hard drive. How can I gain control of my new but slightly used computer. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I do have the CD but I’m prompted to give the open firmware admin user name and pw when I try and boot from the CD. Everything I’ve tried will not give me access to the computer. Help would be greatly appreciated