babyshrigs

Q: i have a powerbookg4 and have forgotten my password

i have my osx installer disc. i have tried re-booting with the disc and the holding "C" key but it is still asking me for my password. what steps can i take to re-set the password?

PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Oct 18, 2012 9:45 PM

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Q: i have a powerbookg4 and have forgotten my password

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  • Helpful answers

  • by BDAqua,Helpful

    BDAqua BDAqua Oct 18, 2012 10:09 PM in response to babyshrigs
    Level 10 (123,735 points)
    Oct 18, 2012 10:09 PM in response to babyshrigs

    Seems you have this set then...

     

    Firmware password protection in Mac OS X ...

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352

     

    It would block usage of all the startup keys, like C, N, T, D, CMD+s, CMD+Option+p+r, CMD +v, Option, and Shift, as well as booting from anything but the Hard Drive.

     

    Force Removing Password Protection

     

    1) Add or remove DIMMs to change the total amount of RAM in the computer.

     

    2) Then, the PRAM must be reset 3 times. (Command + Option + P + R).

     

    http://www.securemac.com/openfirmwarepasswordprotection.php

  • by babyshrigs,

    babyshrigs babyshrigs Oct 18, 2012 10:41 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 18, 2012 10:41 PM in response to BDAqua

    interesting. i had no clue what firmware was and defintiely do not remember "switching it on". eeks!

     

    i will try my best to follow the second link you attached. i hope it works!

     

    thank you for your quick response too... i will let you know if i have success or not...

  • by babyshrigs,

    babyshrigs babyshrigs Oct 19, 2012 10:16 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 19, 2012 10:16 AM in response to BDAqua

    hi BD, i followed the directions below and successfully entered a new password. my computer then re-started after i typed "reset-all" but once again at the login command the new password is not working...when i was entering that info i chose,"setenv security-mode none" as well. i feel like im getting close but still no success getting in!

     

    what should i do from here?

     

     

    Procedure


    Enabling Password Protection


    1) Boot into the Open Firmware. (Command + Option + O + F)


    2) At the command prompt, type "password" (without the quotes, of course). You will be prompted to enter in the password you wish to use. Type your password, press the return key, retype your password again, and press return to verify that that the first password you typed is indeed the password you want. (Note: the password is stored in the "security-password" variable, but the contents of this variable is never shown via the "printenv" command.)


    3) Type "setenv security-mode full" OR "setenv security-mode command" OR "setenv security-mode none", depending on which level of security you wish.


    4) Then type "reset-all" to restart the computer.


  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Oct 19, 2012 10:27 AM in response to babyshrigs
    Level 10 (123,735 points)
    Oct 19, 2012 10:27 AM in response to babyshrigs

    So, it's still asking for a Firmware Password, or maybe just a login Password?

     

    Does the c key still ask for a PW?

  • by babyshrigs,

    babyshrigs babyshrigs Oct 19, 2012 10:35 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 19, 2012 10:35 AM in response to BDAqua

    its still asking me for the login password. and i am having no luck with the c key and mac osx disc re-boot combo.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Oct 19, 2012 10:49 AM in response to babyshrigs
    Level 10 (123,735 points)
    Oct 19, 2012 10:49 AM in response to babyshrigs

    Hmmm, still not clear if it's just a login PW... does  holding the alt key at bootup show boot choices?

  • by babyshrigs,

    babyshrigs babyshrigs Oct 19, 2012 10:59 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 19, 2012 10:59 AM in response to BDAqua

    ok so i just re-booted holding alt key. there are three things on my screen...what next?photo (13).jpg

  • by BDAqua,Helpful

    BDAqua BDAqua Oct 19, 2012 11:04 AM in response to babyshrigs
    Level 10 (123,735 points)
    Oct 19, 2012 11:04 AM in response to babyshrigs

    Ah, OK, so it IS a login PW & NOT Firmware PW, great...

     

    Reset OS X Password Without an OS X CD...

     

    http://theappleblog.com/2008/06/22/reset-os-x-password-without-an-os-x-cd/

     

    Admin Hack...

     

    http://www.hackmac.org/?q=node/4

     

    Starts up like the first time you buy a new Mac, but after filling in all that info again, you should have access to the computer and the other Users & files will still be there... give the new User a different name than an existing one.

     

    PS. Something is wrong with the c key, the Optical drive, or the Install Disc.

  • by babyshrigs,

    babyshrigs babyshrigs Oct 19, 2012 12:02 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 19, 2012 12:02 PM in response to BDAqua

    BOOM. thank you BD. you da bomb:)boom.jpg

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Oct 19, 2012 12:13 PM in response to babyshrigs
    Level 10 (123,735 points)
    Oct 19, 2012 12:13 PM in response to babyshrigs

    Good news, thanks & good luck!

     

    Now you can change the PW on the original account.