i have a 1999-2004 imac that I want to dispose of but cannot recall if I erased the data. I get the usual login screen on power up but have forgotten all the passwords. Apple Support say it is too old for them to help. Anyone know how to get to a recover screen or to erase without a login?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iMac
tbirdvet wrote:
You could start in recovery mode and erase the drive from there without the PW:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212190
Not sure that is an option. OP is describing a PowerPC G3 or G4 iMac and they could not run higher than macOS 10.5 "Leopard." According to what I've found, Recovery came in with macOS 10.7 "Lion," which required an Intel processor.
tbirdvet wrote:
You could start in recovery mode and erase the drive from there without the PW:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212190
Not sure that is an option. OP is describing a PowerPC G3 or G4 iMac and they could not run higher than macOS 10.5 "Leopard." According to what I've found, Recovery came in with macOS 10.7 "Lion," which required an Intel processor.
You could start in recovery mode and erase the drive from there without the PW:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212190
+1 on removing the HD. You can also try If you forgot your Mac login password but the computer is close to or over 20 years old so removing the HD may be your best bet.
you could open it and take out the harddisc
+1 on pulling the drive
Yes, you could be correct but I would give it a try anyway.
I'm pretty sure there isn't a recovery option without the reboot disc - which is long gone- so it looks like hdrive removal is only option.
Thanks everyone
How to erase an iMac without a password?
