masterwood55
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: how do i create a new admin and delete the old one

just bought a used macbook pro and dont know the admin password.  how do i create a new admin and delete the old one?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Feb 16, 2014 12:37 PM

by babowa,Solvedanswer
babowa babowa
Level 7 (32,357 points)
iPad
A:

Backup!! Yes, you will have to wipe the drive (once booted from the install disk) so you need to backup. During the new install, Setup Assistant will pop up and ask if you want to transfer things or, if they're just files (no apps), you can simply drag 'n drop back.

Posted on Mar 4, 2014 7:19 PM

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masterwood55

Q: how do i create a new admin and delete the old one

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  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Feb 16, 2014 12:44 PM in response to masterwood55
    Level 9 (73,348 points)
    Applications
    Feb 16, 2014 12:44 PM in response to masterwood55

    Hi,

     

    System Preferences > User and Groups to create a New Account.

    You can make sure it has Admin privileges.

     

    You can also change the password to the Original Mac User account if you so wish.

    Whilst Restarting the Computer in Recovery Mode (CMD +R at restart) you can then use the second Section in this document, from item 2 onwards

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1274

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:44 pm      Sunday; February 16, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad

  • by masterwood55,

    masterwood55 masterwood55 Feb 16, 2014 1:34 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 16, 2014 1:34 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    ok unless im doing something wrong ive tried both ways and no luck.  is it different for different versions? im runing 10.8.5.  sorry first time mac user so still learning how to navigate around

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Feb 16, 2014 1:41 PM in response to masterwood55
    Level 9 (73,348 points)
    Applications
    Feb 16, 2014 1:41 PM in response to masterwood55

    Hi,

     

    Getting to the Screen after the Choose Language option is different.

    The Article I liked you to is generally about the time when the OS came on DVD disks.

    You had to restart from that disk and then run an Installer.

     

    The current method used in Lion, Mountain Lion and Mavericks is to restart the computer whilst holding down CMD and the R keys together.

    This will get you to the Language screen  and then to the potential installer.

     

    In both cases at this point you get the Menu bar that you get all the time in the regular boot.

    One of these menus is called Utilities.

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:41 pm      Sunday; February 16, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Feb 18, 2014 11:54 AM in response to masterwood55
    Level 9 (74,069 points)
    iTunes
    Feb 18, 2014 11:54 AM in response to masterwood55

    User Password Reset    

  • by masterwood55,

    masterwood55 masterwood55 Feb 18, 2014 12:09 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 18, 2014 12:09 PM in response to Eric Root

    So I got the original password and everything is good now. My wife forgot to tell me that she knew the password the whole time. As I'm messing with this for a good part of the day. She says oh the guy I bought it from told me the password. So problem solved thanks for all the help you guys

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Feb 18, 2014 1:24 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 9 (73,348 points)
    Applications
    Feb 18, 2014 1:24 PM in response to Eric Root

    Thanks Eric.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:23 pm      Tuesday; February 18, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Feb 18, 2014 1:25 PM in response to masterwood55
    Level 9 (73,348 points)
    Applications
    Feb 18, 2014 1:25 PM in response to masterwood55

    Good to hear.

     

    Thanks for letting us know.

     

    Sounds like the wife needs a few more chips on memory and a printer.

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:25 pm      Tuesday; February 18, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Feb 19, 2014 7:14 AM in response to masterwood55
    Level 9 (74,069 points)
    iTunes
    Feb 19, 2014 7:14 AM in response to masterwood55

    You are welcome.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Feb 19, 2014 7:15 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 9 (74,069 points)
    iTunes
    Feb 19, 2014 7:15 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    I'm not sure I understand, but you are welcome.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Feb 19, 2014 8:05 AM in response to masterwood55
    Level 7 (32,357 points)
    iPad
    Feb 19, 2014 8:05 AM in response to masterwood55

    Did the seller also give your wife his/her Apple ID? Your profile states you are running 10.8.5; unless that was the original OS on that machine and the owner un-registered it from his support profile, you would need that if you need to reinstall the OS in case of problems. That is because the license for any OS or software obtained from the app store is not transferable, so if he left apps such as iMovie for instance, you will not be able to update it if you are using your own Apple ID.

  • by masterwood55,

    masterwood55 masterwood55 Feb 19, 2014 9:01 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 19, 2014 9:01 AM in response to babowa

    I updated to the newest version myself honestly can't remember if I did it under my iTunes or if his iTunes was still signed in (I bought it from a shop not private owner) and yes those apps are on there already so I guess I will need to reinstall all that stuff right?

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Feb 19, 2014 9:45 AM in response to masterwood55
    Level 7 (32,357 points)
    iPad
    Feb 19, 2014 9:45 AM in response to masterwood55

    You updated to the current 10.8.5? Updating the OS is not a problem; it's the reinstall that would be as that is Apple ID dependent. And, any app obtained at the app store usually cannot be updated.

     

    So, what apps are we talking about? For instance, any iLife app is not transferable. Pages is free now if you're running Mavericks. Do you know which OS version was on it originally - that should be easy enough to verify either by checking the exact model identifier of the Mac (which determines what version came with it) and/or checking with the shop that sold it to you. Did you get an install disk?

  • by masterwood55,

    masterwood55 masterwood55 Feb 19, 2014 10:18 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 19, 2014 10:18 AM in response to babowa

    No disk and I believe I updated from whatever came right before 10.8.5. And the apps that I know are iPhoto, iMovie, and a couple other ones that they put on there right before they gave it to us

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Feb 19, 2014 11:40 AM in response to masterwood55
    Level 7 (32,357 points)
    iPad
    Feb 19, 2014 11:40 AM in response to masterwood55

    Okay, so go to the Apple, click on About this Mac, then on more info, and then on System report. Then copy the info displayed when the "hardware" in left column is highlighted. It'll show your model, etc. - do NOT post your serial number.

     

    It'd be best to figure out what year/model it is so we know what was on it originally.

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