My Imac wont recognize my log in password

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chillyrocket Author

Level 1

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My Imac wont recognize my log in password

Hello?

I own an Imac with Leopard 10.5 (NOT Snow Leopard)...

Yesterday - I re-installed the 2 disks to try to clean up a bit the system...

(I've own the computer for 3 or 4 years, and I think it kinda needed it...)

It installed (took 2 hours) and all seemed well until - I went to log in...

I put in my pw (same pw since I bought the Imac) and it wont recognize it???

It wont recognize the master pw either...

What can I do - I live very far (200km) from an Apple store...

😟

I will give all the points and stars to anyone who can help!!

I have a huge assignment to start this week...

Chilly

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Feb 20, 2012 3:26 PM

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Answer 1

X423424X

Level 6

14,265 points

Feb 20, 2012 5:28 PM in response to chillyrocket

Mac OS X: Changing or resetting an account password

Forgot Mac Password? How to Reset Your Mac Password (with or without CD)

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Answer 2

chillyrocket Author

Level 1

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Feb 20, 2012 5:29 PM in response to chillyrocket

Ok - reboot with holding the key C and going to utilities and reset pw - WORKED!

It worked for my admin account BUT now I'm also stuck with 'other' account at login... (which is I believe the root account?)

Tried to delete it by going to the go menu in finder and then directory utilities but all I see under the edit menu is 'enable root user' NOT disable...

If I click enable - it does nothing...

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Answer 3

X423424X

Level 6

14,265 points

Feb 20, 2012 5:43 PM in response to chillyrocket

If you think it is "root" then the fllowing tells you how to enable/disable root user using your admin password:

Enabling and using the "root" user in Mac OS X

And you can also change the root password from terminal using:

sudo passwd root

Answer the prompt for your admin passoword (it won't be echoed) and then the other prompts.

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Answer 4

chillyrocket Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 20, 2012 5:56 PM in response to X423424X

Sorry - could it be something else?

I have an 'admin user' and and 'other user'... and I have tried this link but in the edit menu it only gives me the option to enable root user and not to disable it... If I choose enable - nothing happens...

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Answer 5

X423424X

Level 6

14,265 points

Feb 20, 2012 6:07 PM in response to chillyrocket

FWIW you cannot delete root, only enable or disable (or if you can delete root DON't). If it isn't root then the only thing you can do is log in to your admin account and use the Accounts system preferences to delete the unknown account. There is no way to recover it's password.

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