Q: Replace password on external drive
Hello all,
on my iMac 21.5", I recently updated my internal Mac HD to El Capitan 10.11. There are now several important programs (e.g. MPEG Streamclip and Photoshop Elements 11) which worked fine under Yosemite but are incompatible with El Capitan.
On an external HD, I installed Yosemite 10.10.2 in late 2014 when it was the current OS X version. I only installed a System on the external drive in case of startup failure on the usual internal HD. All the affected programs (also installed on the external drive) work fine in Yosemite.
When I startup on the external HD to access those programs, I run into problems when I need to make changes for which the System requires a user and password. I no longer remember what they were. Is there a way to change the password (given that I can identify the user name from the "Users" folder), please?
Sincerely, paulranger1.
iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)
Posted on Feb 27, 2016 5:33 AM
Thank you again for your perseverance, Linc.
With external Yosemite active system, I restarted in "Recovery" mode; at ""OS X Utilities" window opened (from menu bar) 'Utilities/Terminal.
With TERMINAL window text -bash-3.2, I typed resetpassword and pressed return - "Reset Password" window opened.
I changed all 3 users Paul Ranger Slim (paulcollins), Paul Ranger (paulranger), Systems Administrator (root) to the same 4 digit password.
Yosemite confirmed change after each user change.
Restarted to external Yosemite.
At desktop, a folder that could not be moved to "Trash" previously, was 'trashable' now. Yippee!
To check that Yosemite really was accepting the newly changed passwords, I highlighted and selected "Get Info".
I clicked the LOCK - authorisation User/Password window opened - I entered new 4 digit password - system would not accept either user or password.
"Get Info" window shows Sharing & Permissions
admin Read & Write
rangertest (me) [on internal El Capitan] Read & Write
staff (?) Read & Write
everyone (?) Read & Write
Absent from "Get Info" window for external drive were Paul Ranger Slim (paulcollins), Paul Ranger (paulranger), Systems Administrator perhaps was reflected in "admin". Still somewhat confused but markedly less so.
Still, I was able to move a previously immovable folder to "Trash".
So, if I can continue to do actions (that previously required a user/password that was NOT accepted) that are now accept the user/ new password combination, life is again 'sweet', thanks to you.
Sincerely. PaulRanger1.
Posted on Feb 27, 2016 11:06 PM