Default admin password? What would it be...?

[mattjamie]

A few questions which lead neatly from one to the other...

Just bought a second hand mac (new to macs from the old world of PCs where i've been living in darkness)

I think it has a fresh install of everything on it... In order to install new software I am often asked for the ADMIN PASSWORD. I've never set one, so is there a default password which would be set with a clean install? Or is it likely that the previous owner set a password which i've no chance of finding?! (in which case, what can I do, as I'd need to reset the password without having one in the first place)

I suspect the answer is "re install the operating system..." I don't have the system disks (of course) so can I buy a new version of leopard and do a clean install?

Finally, if I do re install Leopard, will this wipe the software on the machine (e.g. OFFICE) and leave me with only the basic Mac stuff like i-movie, safari etc?

thanks in advance.
Matt

 

[geoffreak]

If the administrator password is not set at install, there is no default. You can set it in System Preferences under security.

You can call AppleCare and ask them to send you replacement disks for the machine. They charge you something like $30 for replacements. You'd be better off just buying a copy of Leopard because your machine may have come with Tiger.

 

[GimmeSlack12]

Boot from your System DVD's and you can set a new password.

 

[killerrobot]

Ask the person you bought the computer from for the password.

 

[fireshot91]

Try hitting enter when it asks for a password?

I mean, I don't have a password set, but whenever I need to install something, the "Password" box comes up, and everytime I just hit Okay, or Enter or anything, and it continues.