Cannot remember Administrator password

Hi Warren,

Put the install disc in the drive and restart while holding down the "c" key. Once you see the spinning progress indicator you can release the key. Click through the install screens past Languages and then choose Reset Password from the Installer menu.

John

Hello Warren...

Reset OS X Password Without an OS X CD

1. Reboot
2. Hold apple + s down after you hear the chime.
3. When you get text prompt enter in these terminal commands to create a brand new admin account (hitting return after each line):
• mount -uw /
• rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
• shutdown -h now
4. After rebooting you should have a brand new admin account. When you login as the new admin you can simply delete the old one. That should do the trick.

Carolyn 🙂

Hi Warren,

Yes, you will.

Once you can access your admin account, go to System Preferences/Accounts/Passwords. Click the Change Password button. At the bottom of that window it says: Password hint. Type in a hint to your password. That way when you log in, that "hint" will be available.

Carolyn 🙂

Message was edited by: Carolyn Samit

Hi Carolyn,

If that creates a new account his files will still be in the old account. To change the password of the old one he needs to enter his current password, which he has forgotten. So how does creating a new account help?

What am I missing?

John

HI John,

Changing your administrator password:
To change the administrator password, you must know the current administrator password. If you're logged in as the administrator, open Account preferences and click the Change Password button.

*If you don't remember the password and automatic login is turned off, you can reset the administrator password using the Mac OS X User Install disc.*

IMPORTANT: Because a user with the Mac OS X install disc can gain unrestricted access to your computer, you should keep the disc in a safe place.

To reset the administrator password using the Mac OS X disc:
Insert the Mac OS X Install disc and restart the computer.
When you hear the startup tone, hold down the C key until you see the spinning gear.
When the Installer appears, choose Utilities > Reset Password.
Follow the onscreen instructions to change the password.
Quit the Installer and restart your computer while holding down the mouse button to eject the disc.

Adding a "hint" .. helps users remember that "forgotten" password and no, this will not create a new account, admin only.

Carolyn 🙂

Yes, I understand how to reset the password. I told the OP how to do it in the first reply in this thread.

You stated in your reply that it could be done without using the disc, which is incorrect when you don't know the old password (which he does not). You also told him he could access his files by creating a new account with some terminal commands. This too is incorrect. He'll have a new account but his files will be inaccessible in his old account folder.

The only way he can reset the password and retrieve his files is with the correct system install disc or a later version retail set.

John