Setting new Admin password

[DonnaMarilyn]

In mid-May I purchased a new iMac. It appears I didn't create an Admin password, and now I need one to install certain programmes.

Can anyone advise as to how to create the Admin password after the event, so to speak? A search of forum topics didn't bring up quite the answer I was hoping for.

The closest solution I could find involves re-setting a password (i.e. the Apple online instructions), but this is for changing or re-setting a password that already exists. The problem is that I don't seem to have one at all.

Any clarification will be much appreciated. Thanks!

Donna

[Hellhammer]

You have set a password, otherwise it won't let you finish the OS X install. Boot from the disk and reset it

[DonnaMarilyn]

Thanks for responding, Hellhammer. I tried the disk method, but with no luck. After I chose the language, there was no option to view a Utilities menu and choose Password reset. The installation simply continued for the next 45 minutes, leaving me as I was before. (Though I was relieved no data had been lost in the reinstallation.)

Perhaps I'm missing something. I'll keep at it.

Donna

[robbieduncan]

You followed the Apple instructions (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274) (expand the "Resetting the original administrator account password" section) to the letter?

[DonnaMarilyn]

Yes, I thought I did, Robbie. It's possible, though, that I should have inserted the disc in a running machine rather than from start-up.

However, I managed to resolve the problem in another way. When I went to System Preferences>Accounts>Change Password, the Admin password field was blank. I left that as it was and just typed in the new password. Presto! It worked.

I hadn't tried that simple way before, as I was certain the blank field would need to be filled in with the Admin PW, which I didn't have. A seconds-long solution that took me ages to find. :o

Donna

[TiffanyBee]

Try this:

http://www.ihackintosh.com/2009/05/how-to-hack-the-user-password-in-mac-os-x-without-an-os-x-cd/

I had that same problem when I accidentally deleted my admin account. You'll have to back up all of your stuff before you do this though because it'll bring you back to setup assistant.