Change Ownership and Password

You can create a new admin id. You can have as many admin ids as you like.

Do you have the password?

the blue Apple icon > system preferences > accounts.

Click on the plus sign to create a new account. Click on lock if needed.

Robert

Hello Ed

See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274 for help with password reset.

However, before you start using your Mac or adding new software to it, I suggest that you erase the startup disk and resinstall ALL software.

I ALWAYS erase and install before using a new computer or even a new hard disk. That way I KNOW that there are no software problems from previous users. Regardless of how such software problems might have been caused, correcting those problems later can consume a lot time that can be avoided merely by doing a clean install now.

The little extra erase and install time BEFORE you begin to really use your "new" Mac lets you be certain that there is nothing on the disk that you don't know is there.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

That's serious. There is no way into the Mac at all if a Firmware password has been set.

I strongly advise you to get your money back if the vendor can't tell you the password.

Jim, thanks for the input. I would prefer not to erase the whole HD. I have found that I can not boot from the optical drive in order to use the "Utilties" to change previous owner's id and password.

Could be that the CD is downlevel for your machine.

Mac will not boot from cd that contain older software than was shipped for the machine.

Try holding down the option key then power on. This brings up the startup manager. Click on your hd. Click on right arrow key.

There seems to be some sort of EFI firmware protection. If you have any knowledge on it let me know.

I think you need to type in a password when ever you boot the machine.

The iMac G5 doesn't use EFI Firmware. It's called firmware as far as I remember right now.

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Get the Mac to set up an additional administrative account. You can then change the password on your old account.

Start with your computer power off. Hold down command-s. Power on your computer.

Type in the following:

The first two commands will depend on your release of Mac OS X. Look at what is typed out in the console to determine the exact format.

# Type the follow two instructions to access the startup disk in read/write. Press return after each command.

/sbin/fsck -fy

/sbin/mount -uw /

cd /var/db

pwd

#List all files. The l is a lower case L.

ls -a

#The move command acts as a rename command in this format.

mv -i .applesetupdone .applesetupdone.old

reboot

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!!

Limnos adds detailed explainations:

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8441597#8441597

The above the idea came from a post by JoseAranda at September 9, 2006 3:48 AM

http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_do_i_reset_my_mac_os_x_admin_root_password.html

You will need to scroll down to see this post. Search for applesetupdone

Once you have a new administrative account, you can change the password of your old administrative account

blue apple > System Preferences > Accounts

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-- You can see that it is easy to change your administrator password. You can set a firmware password that you enter before your machine will boot.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352

-- For the best data security, you should use FileVault. Create a good logon password. Define and use a good backup plan. I do not recommend using FileVault unless you really need the security because it is much harder to recover your data should you have a harddrive problem and you do not have your data backed up.

If you mean open firmware password on your PPC Mac, you have a problem: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL675

More info: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352 seems to say that EFI firmware password relates to iNtel Macs rather than PPC, but in either case, you will need the password or risk damage explained in the "Warning."

noondaywitch gives you the best advice I can offer in the above case.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

You're right Jim, it's Open Firmware.

Edward; the reaon I suggest returning it to the vendor if he can't tell you the FW password is that it indicates that the provenance of the computer may be suspect (in English, it may be stolen).

Taking it in will let a Genius reset the password and allow you to use the optical drive and the rest of the Mac without problems. So get thee to an Apple store!

You're most welcome, Ed!

Edward Gaiano wrote: ... Do you think taking it to an Apple store and having some genius look at my iMac may help? ...

Yup.

When Miriam says it, too, you can count on it! (Best regards, @Miriam)

Please let us know how it goes.

Jim

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac OSX 10.7.3

😉 @Jim