heydiddle
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Resetting administrator password when the Reset Password Utility is not available using single user mode? How to?

trying to resent administrator password (forgot it and lost disk) looking for instructions to reset in single user mode? ty

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Dec 3, 2013 5:23 AM

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heydiddle

Q: Resetting administrator password when the Reset Password Utility is not available using single user mode? How to?

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  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Dec 3, 2013 8:08 AM in response to heydiddle
    Level 8 (48,918 points)
    Dec 3, 2013 8:08 AM in response to heydiddle

    Resetting or changing an account password:

     

    For Snow Leopard or ealier:  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274

     

    For Lion or later:  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6022

  • by heydiddle,

    heydiddle heydiddle Dec 3, 2013 10:22 AM in response to Klaus1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 3, 2013 10:22 AM in response to Klaus1

    Thanks but I do not have the disk and have to boot up in single-user mode to change password but need more help with this. Instructions I had are not working.

  • by codman1004,

    codman1004 codman1004 Dec 3, 2013 11:48 AM in response to heydiddle
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 3, 2013 11:48 AM in response to heydiddle

    have you tried normal linux commands? See here http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-set-change-password-how-to/

     

    Try using the passwd (user) command in order to change the admin password assuming that the computer is yours.

  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Dec 3, 2013 1:35 PM in response to heydiddle
    Level 8 (48,918 points)
    Dec 3, 2013 1:35 PM in response to heydiddle

    If you are in the US call Apple Customer Support 1-800-767-2775, provide the Serial Number and specifications of the Mac, and for a reasonable fee, they will supply a replacement set of system discs (if available).

     

    The discs will be for the original version of the OS that was pre-installed when the Mac was manufactured.

     

    If you are in another country:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57

  • by heydiddle,

    heydiddle heydiddle Dec 4, 2013 6:28 AM in response to heydiddle
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 4, 2013 6:28 AM in response to heydiddle

    Thank you all for the input. My dilemma is that I am trying to add an airport card (successfull) and need my admin password which I forgot to activate it. I have original disks but I upgraded to 10.5.8 and cannot find those disks. I have software installed and if I restore original software that came with computer I will mess a lot of things up. We tried a flash drive with  10.5.8 on it but my computer is too old to recognize it.

     

    I was given some instructions to boot up in single-user mode and do some prompts...

    Start up in single-user mode (Command S)

    Type: mount -uw /

    Press Return

    Type passwd (user's short name) Replace "(user's short name:" with the short name opf the user account whose password you wish to reset. If you are not sure what the account name is, you can get a list of user names by typing: Is /Users

    Press Return

    Enter a new user password

    etc....

     

    this did now work as instructed . does anyone have further instructions that may work?