Administrator Issues, Unable to Install Software

I don't know if it's "suspicious" -- he probably had it lying around the house for a while, not using it - maybe he never installed any programs of his own on it -- what I'm saying is, I have no idea. One can still send/receive email, surf the web, etc. It's not as though the computer is useless -- I just need to be able to install some programs on it.

I found something similar on another forum that involves a reboot and holding down Apple-S for a while after I "hear the chime" and then typing in the following:

mount-uw/

rm/var/db/.AppleSetupDone

shutdown=h now

I'm trying this now. So far I haven't "heard a chime" and it's a bit intimidating, as I've always run Windows machines and have never worked on a Mac before. If anyone can help with this, I'd appreciate it...

I did that already. That's where I found the information I quoted in the previous post. Here it is again:

Reboot.

After I "hear the chime" type in the folliowing:

mount-uw/

rm/var/db/.AppleSetupDone

shutdown=h now

This should enable me to create a new administrator and a password. I'm still trying to do this, but whenever I type in "mount-uw/ I get a message that says "no such directory" or "directory unknown."

I think the problem might be that I'm typing in "mount-uw" in the wrong spot somehow. Again, any help with this will be appreciated. Thanks...

Let me try to simplify this. Here is the link to the information I've been trying to describe:

http://gigaom.com/2008/06/22/reset-os-x-password-without-an-os-x-cd/

I think it's explained pretty clearly there. It's just that, I don't know where I'm supposed to type mount/rw and all that. I get this black background with white lettering like I used to see on DOS windows and that kind of thing. But I don't know how to navigate in that darkness -- I'm supposed to write "mount-uw" *somewhere* but I don't know where. It says I'll get "prompts" but I don't get them.

OK I'll try that & get back to you.

Yes, this is helpful. I see what I did wrong now.

Here's what we got:

• mount -uw /
• rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
• shutdown -h now

I assume there's a space after "shutdown" as well. This should work; if there's a problem, I'll get back to you.

Thanks.