Resetting IMac without being logged in

You can create a new administrator account by restarting the Setup Assistant:

1. Boot into Single User Mode: Start/restart your Mac. As soon as you hear the startup tone, press and hold ⌘ + S until you see a black screen with white lettering. (If you end up back on the login screen after a flash of the black screen with white lettering, enter your password and it will return to the black screen.)
2. Check and repair the drive by typing /sbin/fsck -fy then ↩ enter - as directed by the on-screen text.
3. Mount the drive as read-write by typing /sbin/mount -uw / then ↩ enter.
4. Remove the Apple Setup Done file by typing rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone then ↩ enter.
5. Reboot by typing reboot then ↩ enter.
6. Complete the setup process, creating a new admin account.

Be very careful to notice the spaces in those Terminal Commands.

Once you've done that the computer reboots and it's like the first time you used the machine. Your old accounts are all safe. From there you just change all other account passwords in the account preferences!!

Doesn't your friend want to be able to use it?

If there were something you could do, wouldn't it be something your Friend would want to try before getting rid of it?

What I mean is, any options you would have he would also have. So one has to question why he wants to sell it, without trying to get it working.

It's very strange that your friend has no inclination to get it working and just wants to sell it.

Very likely stolen. Walk away

emz1110 wrote:

or should I really just find something better?

Find a better friend or yes buy a Mac that does not have an issue. Simple.

OK.let us know. :)