mhcgrl
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: How can I change the password in the iBook donated to our nonprofit.  No password was given with the iBook?  We need to put in printer and other software.  Help, we can use the laptop without changing the password.

  How can we change the password in the iBook donated to our nonprofit?  No password was given with the iBook and every time we try to install items, the password window pops up.  We need to put in printer and other software.  Help! We can use the laptop without changing the password.

PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33 GHz), Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on May 19, 2014 11:13 PM

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Q: How can I change the password in the iBook donated to our nonprofit.  No password was given with the iBook?  We need to ... more

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  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer May 21, 2014 12:30 AM in response to mhcgrl
    Level 6 (14,587 points)
    Desktops
    May 21, 2014 12:30 AM in response to mhcgrl

    If you did not get an OS X install-restore DVD with the computer you may need

    to buy one from somewhere, and you may be lucky to get a retail OS X 10.5.x

    version. The original grey-label install set of software and OS X it shipped with

    likely would be an older system than Leopard 10.5. Last versions of G4 Mac, &

    G5, shipped with a Tiger 10.4 system; so did early Intel-based Mac. Grey discs

    which accompanied other computer build models generally do not interchange.

    The last OS X version a PowerPC architecture can use, if supported, is 10.5.8.

    A PPC processor at 867MHz & faster should be able to run OS X 10.5 Leopard.

     

    {With the correct disc installer, you can use it to change a password and other

    things including re-install, and perform disk utility functions, etc.}

     

    There is a chance you may be able to get a white-label Replacement 10.4 DVD

    or Replacement 10.5 DVD from AppleCare or the online Apple Store (800myapple)

    from a Mac OS X system specialist; these have been available yet hard to get

    as not all persons involved with them seem to know if they still exist until someone

    is asking. These aren't retail stock, are special discs for computers who could use

    a system later than original old discs; these are complete install discs not for one

    specific series of Mac. Generally they'd work in supported PowerPC G4/G5; but

    do not replace specialized original install DVD, such as an early Intel mac requires.

     

    You'd need to have a serial number of the computer, and a method of payment

    when seeking some replacement system media from Applecare or Apple sales

    and these discs are not available in a retail store. The original Retail discs are

    labeled differently and shipped in a retail box with a big X on the front. Other

    sources for retail 10.4 Tiger or 10.5 Leopard may be online via amazon sellers

    or computer resellers who handle repaired Macs. Avoid mystery grey label ones

    that were intended to be sold and kept with their original computer kits.

     

    Good luck!