I need help to reset my administrator password… is there no way to get a hint for the password?

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I need help to reset my administrator password… is there no way to get a hint for the password?

If I have no record of the administrator password, is there a way to reset it?

I am on OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.5 - research online says put in disc etc... I dont have a disc, I dont even have a disc drive.

I am trying to update my OS X and it needs the administrator password to complete. ofcoarse I should know my admin password, but I don't - when I got the new computer I had to type in so much info to set up, I forgot to keep a record of this one password... the most important and hardest to reset it seems.

Any help for a novice? Should I go to a Mac shop?

MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), Trying to update OS X

Posted on Feb 21, 2014 8:13 AM

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Answer 1

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dominic23

Level 10

83,904 points

Feb 21, 2014 9:10 AM in response to BrodieElla

OS X 10.7 Lion, 10.8 MountainLion & 10.9 Mavericks

Reset Password using Recovery HD

Boot into Recovery Partition.

Start the computer,then press and hold down command and R keys to start into recovery partition.

When you see the Apple logo, release the keys.

Wait until OS X Utilities window shows up.

Move the mouse to the menubar at the top and click "Utilities", then select "Terminal"

from the drop down.

Terminal window will appear.

Type in resetpassword and press enter on the keyboard.

Leave the Terminal window open.

Reset Password Utility window will open with Macintosh HD selected.

Select the user account from the popup menu box.

Enter a new password.

Reenter the new password for the user.

Enter a hint.

Click the "Save" button.

Click  in the menubar and select Restart.

Log in.

If Keychain dialog box appears, select “Create New Keychain”.

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Answer 2

Feb 21, 2014 11:47 AM in response to BrodieElla

When selecting passwords, make sure it's one that you will NEVER forget AND no one else can figure out.

Old school--- > Print it out & keep in a safe place. A place that ONLY you know about AND never forget.😉

New school---> Get a password manager utility. Highly recommend 1Password which is shareware. Do a Google search for free password managers.

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