kimberly132

Q: got an old g3 gave to me it has 9.2 os on it need to reset password how do i do that

need help someone gave me an old imac g3 need to reset password on it noone knows the password......i need help   it boots up to os 9.2 then wants a password...........no boot disks........help please i would like to give mac a try!

iMac, Mac OS 9.2.x

Posted on Feb 23, 2012 8:52 PM

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Q: got an old g3 gave to me it has 9.2 os on it need to reset password how do i do that

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  • by MGW,

    MGW MGW Feb 24, 2012 10:00 AM in response to kimberly132
    Level 7 (27,026 points)
    Feb 24, 2012 10:00 AM in response to kimberly132

    You can contact Apple, give them your serial number, and hopefully they will still have install discs for your machine.  When youget the discs,  you can the insert the first Disc, get as far as the opton to contine, but don't, istead you to the menu barutilities and select reset password.

     

    If Apple don't have the discs, look on eBay for RETAIL black faced install discs, on no account buy ones with grey faces, they are machine specific and won't work.

     

     

     

     

    excellentsig2.png

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Feb 24, 2012 11:48 AM in response to kimberly132
    Level 6 (8,471 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Feb 24, 2012 11:48 AM in response to kimberly132

      Mac OS 9:See this site for disabling the password in Mac OS 9.1 http://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?cat=1301&id=1014   "If you're 'just' talking about your Multiple Users password, there is a simpler solution: start up from your MacOS Install CD, delete the Multiple Users preferences file, and restart from the hard drive." I copied this sentence from the post below. Mac Fixit

  • by MGW,

    MGW MGW Feb 24, 2012 11:57 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 7 (27,026 points)
    Feb 24, 2012 11:57 AM in response to rccharles

    The wisc.edu doesn't load for me, and the OP doesn't have his install discs, which is the root of his problem

     

     

     

     

    excellentsig2.png

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Feb 24, 2012 3:54 PM in response to MGW
    Level 6 (8,471 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Feb 24, 2012 3:54 PM in response to MGW

    You need to find some way of accessing the harddrive when booting off of some other OS  than what is on the harddrive.

     

    I do not think Apple sells the cds anymore, but here are the numbers

     

    AppleCare Support Phone Number: 1-800-275-2273

    open 6am to 6pm Pacific Time

     

    Apple Phone Sales 1-800-692-7753

     

    International Technical Support Numbers

    http://www.apple.com/support/contact/phone_contacts.html

     

     

    Before getting an X disc starting with 10.2, you need to worry about the firmware.

     

    You need to figure out the level of your firmware before installing 10.2 or greater. ( The PC name for firmware is BIOS. ) Installing 10.2 with a down level firmware will most likely make your iMac unusable and difficult to fix.

     

    What is firmware?

    The firmware software receives control when you poweron your machine.  It does some hardware testing and some hardware configuration then passes control to your version of Mac OS.   It reside on a PROM ( program read only memory ) chip on the logic board.

     

    Figuring out what level of firmware you have?

    1) Mac OS 9.x or 8.x, you need to use the Apple System Profiler.

    Apple -> Apple System Profiler

     

    2) Open Firmware, boot into Open Firmware.

    Power on your iMac while holding down command+option+o+f

    The first output line contains the firmware level. Mine reads:

    Apple PowerMac4,1 4.1.9f1 BootRom built on 09/14/01 at 13.18.04

    Copyright 1994-2001 Apple Computer Inc.

     

    On my machine, I have 4.1.9f1.

     

    What firmware do you need?

    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117

     

    For a slot loading iMac, this article indicates that you need to be running 9.1 or later version of Mac OS Classic.

    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75130

    "The iMac Firmware Update 4.1.9 will only run on iMac computers with lot-loading CD or DVD drives running Mac OS 9.1 or later from a local drive. If you are using Mac OS X you must boot from a local Mac OS 9.1 or later writeable partition (not a CD, or network disk) prior to following the update instructions."

     

    You can download the Mac OS 9 updates from the Apple site.

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1387?viewlocale=en_US