I just bought an imac 800 mhz only the original owner won't give me the password to the admin or master password. I can't install applications and the other side is taking up over 65 GB of hard drive space. How do I get into the locked side of my new computer? Thanks!
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Just bought an iMac and original owner won't give me PW for Admin
- Thread starter Bali Cockfight
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Get an install cd for the OS that it's running and restart from it. Once it boots from the installer disk, you can use the password reset function to change all of the passwords on the machineBali Cockfight said:
Mac OS X: Changing or resetting an account password.
Please search the next time you have a question. This and most other questions have been covered before.
Please search the next time you have a question. This and most other questions have been covered before.
Ummm.... probably because the original owner is a dumb$#!& and didn't reformat the drive before selling the computer? And doesn't want Bali to have access to all his personal stuff... just a guess, mind you.persianpunisher said:
Mitthrawnuruodo said:Mac OS X: Changing or resetting an account password.
Please search the next time you have a question. This and most other questions have been covered before.
I don't have the original Install cd. Can I buy one or borrow one?
You could do either to reset the password, but I highly recommend buying one so you can use it down the road also. Which version of OS X is it running? You can find any of the older ones very cheaply on ebay.Bali Cockfight said:
Or you could hold Cmd+S to boot in single-user mode, then fsck and mount the root partition and delete... hmm... what is that file? There's a file somewhere in the fs that checkmarks (basically) whether or not the master account has been created or not. It appears after you do the yippieskippee Mac OS X Personalizing Wizard thing. Anyway, if you delete that, you can create a brand new admin account.
Either way, it'd be sweet for you to burn this guy DVDs of the **** he had on the computer. "Did you forget this?" Just because he's a ****ing dick.
Either way, it'd be sweet for you to burn this guy DVDs of the **** he had on the computer. "Did you forget this?" Just because he's a ****ing dick.
I've never had reason to try this but one possible solution might be to use passwd [account name] while in single user mode. (Apple + S at startup)
If that doesn't work, someone above suggested something with fdisk. If I remember correctly they're referring to this:
At the prompt:
/sbin/fsck -fy
/sbin/mount -uw /
rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
reboot
That should launch the "Welcome to Mac OS X" Screen at startup, and let you create a new admin account without removing the old accounts.
If that doesn't work, someone above suggested something with fdisk. If I remember correctly they're referring to this:
At the prompt:
/sbin/fsck -fy
/sbin/mount -uw /
rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
reboot
That should launch the "Welcome to Mac OS X" Screen at startup, and let you create a new admin account without removing the old accounts.
Mitthrawnuruodo said:Mac OS X: Changing or resetting an account password.
Please search the next time you have a question. This and most other questions have been covered before.
Why do some people get on such a high horse about newbs who ask questions that others have asked. There have to be a zillion threads on "ibook vs. pbook" or "imac vs powermac" or whatever, nobody ever gives those folks a hard time about doing a search...what makes these kinds of questions different?
I don't think I'm on a very high horse. I answered the question and then pointed out, in a nice way I might add, that it's a good idea to search before posting new threads, since they are a waste of space, as buryyourbrideau points out.dswoodley said:
And I've, more or less, given up on the iBook vs PowerBook or the related screen size threads. I haven't seen any iMac vs Power Mac threads lately, though...
And even your post has been answered before, in the Reposts and reprimands-thread...
Mitthrawnuruodo said:I don't think I'm on a very high horse. I answered the question and then pointed out, in a nice way I might add, that it's a good idea to search before posting new threads, since they are a waste of space, as buryyourbrideau points out.
And I've, more or less, given up on the iBook vs PowerBook or the related screen size threads. I haven't seen any iMac vs Power Mac threads lately, though...
And even your post has been answered before, in the Reposts and reprimands-thread...
I've done the same thing Mitthrawnuruodo and been ripped for it. I don't think pointing out a search is inappropriate. Certain questions have been answered repeatedly, like Virtual PC questions, password protecting a folder, etc. I never just say "search you idiot", or anything like that. I often link to the appropriate threads, answer the question and suggest a search or something similar, yet I've been taken to task for it. Makes you want to just pass over the thread all together and ignore, but that doesn't help either.
Woof, Woof - Dawg
Mitthrawnuruodo said:Mac OS X: Changing or resetting an account password.
Please search the next time you have a question. This and most other questions have been covered before.
Why dont we just ban people from EVER asking questions .. and turn this into a read only forum to keep people like you happy.
Same old question??????
I have to point this out... I posted an address for a widget called Widget for Newbies, which answered all or most of these questions that are asked here over and over again, I thought I was helping out , thinking if I had a quick answer widget and was new to OSX that it would be great!!!
Well that thread got TWO relpies, one smart ass_d and one correcring me!
So much for trying to help this forum out !!!!!!
R
I have to point this out... I posted an address for a widget called Widget for Newbies, which answered all or most of these questions that are asked here over and over again, I thought I was helping out , thinking if I had a quick answer widget and was new to OSX that it would be great!!!
Well that thread got TWO relpies, one smart ass_d and one correcring me!
So much for trying to help this forum out !!!!!!
R
macdon401 said:
Sorry, I think that was me.
I wasn't trying to be smart, I thought the widget was a front page to a forum like the MacRumors widget is and I was just asking about how good that other forum was. My bad. Sorry.
