Forgotten OS 9 Start up login

Hi, Pepijn -

You will need to boot the machine to an OS other than the OS 9 on the hard drive. That means any disk the machine can boot to - it does not have to be an OS 9 Install CD. It can be a CD for a utility such as DiskWarrior, TechTool, or even Norton Utilities.

Once booted to a different OS, go into the System Folder on the hard drive, then into the Preferences folder. Locate the file named Multi-User Prefs and throw it away.

If you just can't find a bootable disk, you may be able to use Firewire Target Disk Mode to gain access to the files on the hard drive -
Article #58583 - Firewire Target Disk Mode

Note that the machine with the password problem would need to be the one set up as the Target machine.

There is no "login password" in OS 9 under "normal" startup procedures.
Are you using the Multiple Users option?
If so, the most common mistake/error people make is the spelling of their password.

Or, maybe you just need to sit back & think of all the words and/or numbers you would have used as passwords, write them down on a piece of paper & go from there.

Chris: You'll need to find or buy a bootable CD that can start your iBook. If you have a first-generation iBook, it requires either OS 9.0.x or the model-specific OS 8.6 CD that was shipped with it. A retail OS 8.6 CD won't do. If you iBook has a FireWire port, it's the second-generation clamshell and requires either OS 9.1 or the machine-specific OS 9.0.x CD that was shipped with it. Again, a retail CD of any version lower than 9.1 won't work. Since you only need to boot to the CD once and not install anything from it, simply borrowing one from somebody would be fine.

Once you have a CD to boot from, start the iBook from the CD and trash the Multiple User Preferences file from the hard drive. You should then be able to boot normally to the hard drive and access anything on the computer.

Assuming the system will start correctly otherwise, you should be able to bypass the Multiple Users startup password by just holding down the Shift key while the system starts (hold it down until you get the startup screen which should say "Extensions Disabled"). Then trash the Multiple User and User and Groups system preferences.

Hope this helps.

Chris: Are you holding down the "c" key while trying to boot to the CD that was shipped with the iBook? Keep holding down the "c" key until the Welcome screen appears. Releasing it too soon will result in the machine booting to its hard drive instead of the CD.

Are you certain the CD you're trying to boot to is the one that was shipped with the iBook? If it is, and you follow the above procedure, the iBook should boot to it no matter what OS is installed on the hard drive. Failure to do so under those circumstances may indicate that the optical drive isn't working.

Hi, Pepijn -

Any bootable disk valid for that model Mac.

Since Macs can not boot to Windows, that means a Windows disk is not suitable.

No Mac G3 or later can boot to a floppy - it is impossible to get a valid OS for that model onto a floppy; there's just not enough room.

If you're going to make one, you'll need to do so on a same-model machine - OS 9 installs are model-specific, unless steps are taken to create a universal install. And, since a universal install can only be done using a CD, there's no reason not to use such a CD to boot the Mac in question.

To boot a Mac to a CD - with the CD in the drive, boot or restart the machine. Immediately press and hold down the C key, keep it held down until the Welcome screen appears for the CD.

Note - if the machine in question is a G3 older than a B&W G3, then while booted to the CD you'll need to use an ADB keyboard and mouse, not USB ones.

Hi, Pepijn -

Yes, that would be ADB.

If your machine is a Blue & White G3, then it can use a USB keyboard to generate startup commands - the USB is built-in on that model, along with ADB.

However, if your G3 is a Beige/Platinum G3 model (which includes the G3 Desktop, G3 All-In-One, or G3 MiniTower models), it has no native USB, and USB can be provided only via an add-on PCI card. If that is the case, startup commands from a USB keyboard will not work, and a USB keyboard and USB mouse can not be used when the machine is booted to a CD.

It could also indicate that an Open Firmware password was set, or that the old PowerBook security app was used.

Chris, where exactly is it asking for a password? Are you getting past the "Welcome to Mac" screen before it asks for a password, or does the password dialog come up before that?

someone on school set up a password on a computer
I don't got the original cd
what can I do?

i got mac OS X for my own mac
can i use a mac os 10.4 instal dvd... oh dam it's a dvd
pleas help me

It don't work's
I press shift, it says: Extensions Disabled and then i still got to enter the password to go to finder

I shall look for a boot disc (what kind? windows boot disc, floppy, cd)
or I'll make one.

I that that you had to press a key to boot from cd-rom?

I think I'll use a ubuntu(unix) live disc(www.ubuntu.com), will that do?
i pressed the c key but no welcome screen for ubuntu just mac os 9.2