piedude

Q: How can I crack a system 7 admin password? (If Possible...)

I have a powerpc PowerMacintosh 6100 running system software 7.5 with At Ease 3.0 installed. How can I change the password if I forgot it? Thanks...

PowerMac, Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier, PowerMacintosh 6100 PowerPc

Posted on Sep 11, 2013 4:42 PM

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Q: How can I crack a system 7 admin password? (If Possible...)

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  • by Appaloosa mac man,

    Appaloosa mac man Appaloosa mac man Sep 12, 2013 12:04 AM in response to piedude
    Level 5 (4,330 points)
    Sep 12, 2013 12:04 AM in response to piedude

    As a general rule, people do not give public hints as to how to get around passwords, like magicians not telling how they do their magic.  Having said that, the simple way around "At Ease" is to not boot from that drive.  Plug in an external hard drive into the SCSI chain and boot from a second hard drive that does not have security installed. 

     

    The work-around was so simple that we used it frequently when reconfiguring computers that were retired by school districts.  Newer password options lock the drive, not the user interface.  Having said that, if you have not backed up your data to a secure but accessable second location, you have not adequately prepared for data preservation.

     

    Ji~m

  • by piedude,

    piedude piedude Sep 12, 2013 3:45 AM in response to Appaloosa mac man
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Sep 12, 2013 3:45 AM in response to Appaloosa mac man

    It is actually a computer that was taken out of a school. I bought it for $5 and I am not really sure how to bootU going anywhere? the thing from an SCSI Chain. Do you have any instructions on how to do that or know any sites that would tell me?

  • by dalstott,

    dalstott dalstott Sep 12, 2013 8:26 AM in response to piedude
    Level 4 (2,625 points)
    Sep 12, 2013 8:26 AM in response to piedude

    You will need a set of Mac OS floppies or an installation CD in order to boot the machine. For a 6100 the original OS was 7.1.2 (PowerPC Enabler v1.0) and the maximum OS is 9.1. If it does not have an internal CD drive then a SCSI connected external drive would be necessary along with the proper cable and terminator.

     

    As you can see things can get very complicated when reviving obsolete computer equipment not to mention unexpected expense. If the Mac seems troublesome then for a nightmare try to do the same with a DOS PC.

     

    http://rescuemyclassicmac.com/index.html

     

    http://oldermac.hardsdisk.net/oldmac.html#hard

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ta27743

     

    http://guides.macrumors.com/SCSI

  • by Appaloosa mac man,

    Appaloosa mac man Appaloosa mac man Sep 12, 2013 9:26 AM in response to piedude
    Level 5 (4,330 points)
    Sep 12, 2013 9:26 AM in response to piedude

    This is where a Mac User Group can help.  The computer has educational value only.  I can name a recycler in Seattle, WA who can help with the parts and pieces you need.  We are in Spokane, WA and offer hands on help to youth groups.  Otherwise, you are going to have to pay someone for the tools.  Another option is to take the hard drive out and put it into an external case and plug that external drive into another computer.

     

    The bottom line is that you need to start up the computer from a CD or system floppy.  If you do not have that, you need to find it.  If you find it on ebay, you have to decide how much money you want to spend on your education or hobby.

     

    Post back with the name of a large city near you.  That will help identify possible user groups.

     

    Ji~m

  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Sep 12, 2013 10:34 AM in response to Appaloosa mac man
    Level 8 (35,321 points)
    iPad
    Sep 12, 2013 10:34 AM in response to Appaloosa mac man

    Good to see your posts again, Ji~m. E-mail me (the addy you have still works) and we can catch up.