2nd hand MacBook suddenly needs an administrator password. Help!

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Level 1

4 points

2nd hand MacBook suddenly needs an administrator password. Help!

I bought a reconditioned MacBook A1342 online, got it 2 weeks ago and all was well. (I believe I have High Sierra operating system -- OS X 13.) I was connected to my building's WiFi, and added photos from my camera, etc. But this morning I went to use it, and the monitor shows a little photo with "adm" below, and a place to enter a password. Near the bottom of the monitor is an X with Cancel below that.

I have no password. I sent a message to the seller, but just in case seller can't help with the password problem, I'm looking for help elsewhere. When I click on the Cancel "X" the monitor goes black for a few seconds, then I'm back to needing a password -- even though I spend 2 weeks using the laptop without one. I improperly shut down my computer by holding down the power / start button, and then started up again, hoping that might fix the glitch. Didn't help.

I've got a 2002 copy of Mac OS X The Missing Manual, and read that if the administrator forgets the password you can insert a Mac OS X CD, and restart the computer while holding down the letter C key. No disk drive, though I do have ancient OS X Tiger installation disks.

I read other posts about forgotten passwords, and I'm to contact Apple Support on another Mac device, but the only thing I can go online with now is a Kindle. Plus this MacBook isn't registered in my name, so that may be a problem.

Does anyone know what my next move should be? And why am I now needing a password, when I'd been using the MacBook without one?

MacBook

Posted on Apr 26, 2020 11:47 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Kappy

Level 10

361,849 points

Apr 26, 2020 12:28 PM in response to NonTechKaren

You won't be able to download it on your Kindle. You will need a Mac in order to make a bootable USB flash drive or a bootable DVD. You may be better off visiting a local Apple shop and asking them to erase the drive and install a clean version of OS X that you can use as your own with your own Apple ID and password. Either this or get the needed disks from the seller. If the seller cannot provide them, then return it and get your money refunded. If the seller has somehow vanished, then you have been conned, and now own a stolen computer.

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

361,849 points

Apr 26, 2020 12:05 PM in response to NonTechKaren

The seller did not do a factory reset, so you are using his software but you do not have his Apple ID and password. You need to wipe the drive and install the original version of OS X that came from the factory pre-installed. According to my information your model is either a Late-2009 or Mid-2010 13" MacBook. The original OS X versions were 10.6.1 and 10.6.3, respectively. If the seller provided the original Software Restore DVDs, then you can use them to reinstall OS X, Snow Leopard. However, if you do not have the DVDs, then your only sources would be eBay or Amazon. You would be able to install Lion on both of the models. You can purchase Lion at the Online Apple Store. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax. It's a download. You will get an email containing a redemption code that you then use at the Mac App Store to download Lion. Save a copy of that installer to your Downloads folder because the installer deletes itself at the end of the installation.

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Answer 3

NonTechKaren Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 26, 2020 12:16 PM in response to Kappy

Kappy, I'm stuck on the password page. If I use my Kindle to order a downloadable operating system how do I download it into a computer that's not useable?

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2nd hand MacBook suddenly needs an administrator password. Help!

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