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 masterwood55,

    masterwood55 masterwood55 Feb 19, 2014 11:59 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 19, 2014 11:59 AM in response to babowa

    Ok will do when I get home from work. Thanks for the help

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Feb 19, 2014 12:26 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 9 (73,348 points)
    Applications
    Feb 19, 2014 12:26 PM in response to Eric Root

    Hi,

     

    You posted a Link whilst I was floundering to find one.

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:26 pm      Wednesday; February 19, 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 20, 2014 12:36 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 9 (74,069 points)
    iTunes
    Feb 20, 2014 12:36 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    On extremely rare occasions I win the typing wars.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Feb 20, 2014 1:13 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 9 (73,348 points)
    Applications
    Feb 20, 2014 1:13 PM in response to Eric Root

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:13 pm      Thursday; February 20, 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 Mar 4, 2014 4:55 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 4, 2014 4:55 PM in response to babowa

    Model Name:          MacBook Pro

      Model Identifier:          MacBookPro5,5

      Processor Name:          Intel Core 2 Duo

      Processor Speed:          2.53 GHz

      Number of Processors:          1

      Total Number of Cores:          2

      L2 Cache:          3 MB

      Memory:          4 GB

      Bus Speed:          1.07 GHz

      Boot ROM Version:          MBP55.00AC.B03

      SMC Version (system):          1.47f2

     

     

    Sorry tried to post this a week ago or so but it kept on giving me an error so here it is.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Mar 4, 2014 6:40 PM in response to masterwood55
    Level 7 (32,357 points)
    iPad
    Mar 4, 2014 6:40 PM in response to masterwood55

    Here are the specs for your machine:

     

    http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-2 .53-aluminum-13-mid-2009-sd-firewire-800-unibody-specs.html

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1159#MacBook_Pro

     

    It appears yours came either with Leopard (10.5.7) or Snow Leopard (10.6). So, to reinstall if needed, upgrade, or update apps (for which you need your Apple ID), you'd have to do a bit of work: first get replacement install disks by calling Apple and giving them your serial number - or, simply pay 19.99 for a retail version of Snow Leopard (10.6.3) which should work in this case (Macs can't boot from a system older than what it came with). In any case, you'd need to boot from the disk, wipe the drive, and reinstall (during that process you set it up with your own admin name). After that, update, and then simply download Mavericks and install using your own Apple ID. A lot of work for something the seller was required to do.

  • by masterwood55,

    masterwood55 masterwood55 Mar 4, 2014 7:15 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 4, 2014 7:15 PM in response to babowa

    That doesn't sound fun but doable anyways. First of all thanks for the help. And second was once I do all that am I gonna lose everything I've done to it like transferring all my music and photos?

  • by babowa,Solvedanswer

    babowa babowa Mar 4, 2014 7:19 PM in response to masterwood55
    Level 7 (32,357 points)
    iPad
    Mar 4, 2014 7:19 PM in response to masterwood55

    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.

  • by masterwood55,

    masterwood55 masterwood55 Mar 4, 2014 7:21 PM in response to masterwood55
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 4, 2014 7:21 PM in response to masterwood55

    Oh yeah and also I was told to wait on mavrick cause it was having problems crashing and other issues. Should I be ok to install it?

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Mar 4, 2014 8:37 PM in response to masterwood55
    Level 7 (32,357 points)
    iPad
    Mar 4, 2014 8:37 PM in response to masterwood55

    You do have 4 GB RAM? You do want that much (or more); it should run fine as long as you don't have incompatible apps, plug ins, etc. Or, you can simply stay with Snow Leopard - it's an excellent OS and will be outstanding with 4 GB; it's fine unless you do want the cloud and other newer features. Every OS newer than that needs more RAM;however, the memory management has been improved in Mavericks.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 5, 2014 11:53 AM in response to babowa
    Level 9 (73,348 points)
    Applications
    Mar 5, 2014 11:53 AM in response to babowa

    Hi babowa,

     

    Thanks for taking this one over.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    7:53 pm      Wednesday; March 5, 2014

     

    ​  iMac 2.5Ghz i5 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 babowa,

    babowa babowa Mar 5, 2014 2:14 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 7 (32,357 points)
    iPad
    Mar 5, 2014 2:14 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    No problem, just worked out that way.....

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