Troubles with mac mini

[anne richards]

Forgotten password on old Mac mini.
There is no facility to select password hint next to blank password box.
I have tried to reboot (whatever) but the 2 user picture images, in a surrounding white box, appear on the desktop with no utilities or any other thing to open with the mouse, if that makes sense.
grrrrr - so frustrated.
Remembered it yesterday but didn't note it...
Help - Anyone out there who speaks unggeek.
Anne

 

[Partron22]

Which IS?
Searching on that and "startup keys" usually returns the info you want.
This may be helpful: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202860

 

[anne richards]

Thank you...
My version is 10.4.11
I have followed startup way of holding down command and R till the bar moves, then letting go, but it continues to go to login page, ignoring keyboard request.
This is what the screen looks like

 

[Fishrrman]

Well, this is illustrates why it's a good reason to WRITE DOWN important passwords on paper and then to store them somewhere safe.

Seems to me one could boot to the old "OS install DVD", and reset the password that way.

Another way to get at the data:
Boot from an EXTERNAL drive with a copy of the OS on it.
When you get to the finder, do a "get info" on the internal drive, click the lock in "sharing and permissions" and put a checkmark into "ignore ownership on this volume". Close get info.

You can now copy just about anything from the internal drive to the external drive, and the copied files will "come under the ownership" of the account on the external drive.

This is how you can "get at your data", even if you forgot the original password.

 

[Partron22]

Back at 10.4.11 Apple was using a different disk format. It may not be a simple matter to make a disk the computer will recognize as a boot disk.
One of these links might prove helpful:
http://osxdaily.com/2018/06/23/where-to-download-old-mac-os-software-from/
https://support.apple.com/downloads/10.4.11

 

[anne richards]

Thanks for help. I do happily take onboard the need to write down passwords now after this episode!
Having just moved house, the start up disc has disappeared somehow.
Would the old thing lock me out if I try too many times?
It does a strange shudder thing when clearing incorrect attempt, and I have found a password which could be ‘the’ password, and that doesn’t work.

 

[anne richards]

Done it!
With this...
Reset 10.4 Tiger password

1. Power on or restart your Mac.
2. At the chime (or grey screen if your chime is turned off), hold down Command+S on your keyboard to enter single-user mode.
3. Type sh /etc/rc and press Enter/Return.
4. Type passwd username and replace “username” with the short name of the user account for which you’d like to reset the password.
5. Type your desired password and press Enter. It won’t show itself on the screen, so be careful what you type. You will most likely have to enter it again to confirm.
6. Type reboot and press Enter.