How to reset login window to name and picture.

[urbanskywalker]

I have a computer in my classroom that crashed and the log in window changed from the one with the picture and name to the name and password. Now I cannot log in since unfortunately the name and password is for the admin. Previously student was an automatic login. If I wait for tech support I will wait a long time. Can anyone suggest how to reset the login without admin privileges. I do have an ibook I can use to go into Target mode. System is 10.4.1

 

[Eidorian]

Re: Reset Admin Password w/o Disc?
Posted by: Don Andrachuk (IP Logged)
Date: January 18, 2007 06:28PM

There are two ways to do it:

Method 1

1. Boot into single user mode (command-S during startup)
2. Once the command line prompt appears, type the following (each followed by return)--note the spaces:

mount -uw /
cd /private/var/db/netinfo
mv local.nidb local.old
rm ../.AppleSetupDone
exit

When you hit RETURN after typing exit, Mac OS X will restart and the setup assistant will launch automatically.

Enter enough details to make a temporary account. From this new account you can launch terminal and run sudo passwd your-short-user-name. Then log out and log into the target account with the new password made from you terminal session.

-----------------------

Method 2

1. boot into single user mode (command-S during startup)

Enter the following commands (each followed by return)--note the spaces and capitalization:

2. mount -uw /
3. SystemStarter
4. passwd your-short-user-name
5. exit

I've done Method 1 myself under 10.4.2.