Change Mac admin password without the disk [Solved/Closed]

vince, I just went through the process after loading Leo over Jaguar. Never use passwords, but long ago i must have entered oned while installing Jaguar! Forgot it, naturally. I used the unix command lines just as published here without the star/asterisks. Worked fist time.

By now you've figured it out another way, but it's nice to see a post like this that is so helpful.

please post the answer to the guy who couldnt get the apple =s to work , want as much knowledge before i try it . thanks ,buzzy

Okay I am trying to reset my admin password and have instructions without a disk, however it says to reboot and then after you hear the chime hold apple+s down...the problem is I don't see an apple key. I tried with command key but I get nothing, somebody please help me, I am confused!

The "apple" button is the command button. All of the instructions you have are case sensitive and need to be written exactly the way you have them.

This worked really well for me, even though I had to do it a few times. Do not include the stars, but follow the spaces very closely. it matters EXACTLY where the spaces are. you'll probably need to do it few times before getting it exactly right. if you need to, copy and paste the instructions onto a word document to find out exactly where the spaces are. It's worth it!!

This worked great for me Thanks a Milli'!!!

thats exactly whats happening to me now, now i cant even log into my desktop? how did u fix it? this mount -uw thing have messed up my macbook pro!?

I tried the mount -uw/ for my macbook pro because I no longer have the original disc. Now my computer just sits at a blue screen with a continuous scolling wheel and then it will go away for a second and come back again. One message I did notice while trying to do the mount -uw/ option was the following:

it keeps scrooling Mach communication failed: (ipc/mig) server died
mDNSKeychainGetSecrets failed error2301 CFArrayRef 00000000
mach_msg_server: (ipc/send) invalid memory

There was more to the message than just this message but I didn't have enough time to get it all.

doesn't look good...i think it's toasted.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me. I'd hate to think I have a very expensive paper weight.

i have the same problem

What do youmean by hold apple+s

hold the command button and the letter s

how did you get this to work exactly? The first command works for me if I don't put he "/" behind it, but I can't get past the 2nd command.

are you pressing them just after the chimes stop?

I have not tested this method so I can't make any recommendation. Many people have posted success and a few want my neck for destroying their computer. Try at your own risk.

Good Luck

Thankyou Xpc man
Worked like a charm

I typed the commands exactly as stated. After typing -- rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone -- I get "/var/db/.AppleSetupDone: No such file or directory" --- do you know why that is? Is there a way around that?

I am getting the same problem now my computer
is doing the same thing. Has it messed up the harddrive? Was yours fixed?

Good Afternoon,

I typed in the commands exactly as you stated (case sensitive). After entering the "rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone" command, I receive the message, "No such file or directory". I'm assuming this means it has already been deleted, however, now when the computer reboots it stops at the spinning wheel. Do you know what the problem is? If so, do you know how to correct it?

Are the commands different since I have Panther?

hi

How you doing,

Im Stuck With The Same Problem
I Have A Macbook I Tried To Type The Code For Reset Password It Didnt Work Now My Computer Wont Boot Up Show The White Screen With The Wheel Spining .. Im Wondering If U Got To Solve The Problem

Thanks

hi ,Pls i hav tried this but it aint working and i keep getting on restartin the Mac the white screen with the ring in loop .

Hi man i recieved a previodly owend macbook but it has the guys name as the admin and his password the text you typed on the forrums did not help me plz im really want to get rid of the password plz and admin name reply plz

The Apple key plus the s key pressed at the same time

works like a champ my brother,you are one genius,thanks a lot

I am another extremely grateful user of your terminal change advice, which worked smartly when I realized I had to insert a space here and there. My heartfelt thanks, xpcman

You created a brand new Admin User Account.

Open System Preferences to confirm valid user accounts.
If your old user exists you can reset the password for the account.

Or try looking in

/Macintosh HD/Users/

for the User Home Folder.

Try it again, start over.

worst scenario
reinstall New System Folder ( NOT a Clean Install )
Your files will still be there.
Maybe have to fuss with configuring or installing some apps.

successful on intel MacBook OS X.4 and intel MacBook Pro OS X.5 (also a G4 according to another post)

FYI to the novices:
This creates a brand NEW Computer Administrator user account.
It will boot like the day you bought your mac or newly installed. (It is NOT a fresh install)
It will prompt you for all your info again (owner registration , .Mac account, etc.) but create a new username for this new account then Previously existing accounts will be untouched.

When logged in, open System Preferences.
Open Accounts. (prefpane)
All existing user accounts will be there.
Select the user account you wish to reset password or change account permissions.
Logout then Login to the changed account.
(Optional) Delete the newly created account.

If not seeing accounts:
Look in
Macintosh HD/Users/
for the user folder that contains the files you want.
(you can then take ownership of a folder and its contents if needed, unless encrypted, corrupted etc.)
Get Info (command + I) of the selected Folder/File
change ownership/permissions (at the bottom of the properties window)

If No Boot:
Try "Target Disk" mode
Start up holding "T" key. (for a few seconds)
You will see a firewire symbol on the screen.
Your Mac is now an external HDD/DVD/CD device that can be connected to another Mac.
Rescue your files to your preferred media.

While there are a number of ways to skin a cat (Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard)
these are a few simple tips.
hope this helps a few

Thanks Again XpcMan I'm a Freelance IT and this tip saved a clients mac as well as a satisfied client.
B-)

Hi Macguyver1,

thanks for the info, all worked well except when I go into the accounts, I can´t reset the password on the account I want to change, Reset Password isn´t highlighted. I can reset the other accounts on there, but not my original one.
I did use FileVault at one point (never again!) and there was a Master Password set up which stopped working for some unknown reason.
I realize this is probably 2 separate problems but I thought a could reset the Master Password as well using your method.
Any advice would be very appreciated. Thanks for your help.

macrob1,
You are correct - 2 different issues.
File Vault is an 'on the fly' encryption/decryption feature. (files in that account are useless without the account password)
Master Password can only be reset/undone if the Master Password is known. Intended for resetting accounts, not File Vault encryption.

As far as I know there is no way around those issues.

Mine had no boot..is there anyway to boot it up again without the disk? Im going crazy...it's stuck at the spinning icon powers off then turns back on doing the same thing...HELP let me know at xavy77@gmail.com

This should work: for Windows PCs

I downloaded EBCD (http://ebcd.pcministry.com/). It's an ISO that basically has a Linux flavor on it but it boots straight into an easy-to-use menu. You just select the windows password reset option, select the defaults for file locations, and then select the user and the password to change. I've used it on Windows 2000 machines, Windows XP machines, Windows 2000 Server machine. Works flawlessly. One recommendation: If you do use it, just use * as the new password. This will blank out the old password. Then you can boot into windows and safely login with no password and change it to whatever you like. Sometimes these utilities have issues with different flavors of windows re-encrypting a new password so it's best to just blank it out.

You will need to take the ISO file and use CD burner software to burn a CD. You must use the "burn a CD from a Disk Image" (or some option like that) that uses the Image file (ISO file) as input and burns a multi-file bootable CD.

Good Luck