How to reset password on Powerbook G4 without OS disk

To acquire a retail DVD install disc for Leopard 10.5 is the only path to access

the computer and re-install the system, personalize it, or remove former owner

status. If there is a file vault or security level that totally locks you out, then

other effort may be necessary. But first thing would be to find a source online

for a Leopard 10.5 retail DVD. One which shipped with an Apple Mac won't

work, and those would have a grey label with the exact part number that disc

would be, only for the computer series model built it was intended for, no other.

Places to inquire may be anywhere old used computers may go. School sales

of old hardware sometimes include a variety of system DVDs including update

and upgrade discs. The PowerBook model probably did not ship with a 10.5 DVD

but would be able to use a retail DVD. To correctly identify the computer by serial

number to see what it may have shipped with (OS X version, disc number, etc) a

web-based identify-by-serial-number may be helpful. I've used this occasionally:

https://www.powerbookmedic.com/identify-mac-serial.php

An example of a general 10.5 DVD search in the powebookmedic site may yield is here:

https://www.powerbookmedic.com/xcart1/_search.php?mode=search&q=OS+X+10.5+DVD

But do note -- the results are not necessarily indicative of a correct part -- often, Not.

Sometimes online resellers may have located a temporary cache of a few install

restore DVDs, or offer good condition used retail type OS X install DVDs. These

are not constant sources because these discs are no longer being made. - For a

time, Apple (main online sales support/store phone number) was able to find a

replacement DVD for the last two versions OS X that could run in PowerPC Macs.

There were white-label DVDs that said Replacement (tiger) or (leopard) on them;

they also said (not for resale). They sold for a reasonable fee of under $20 each.

An operating system specialist was one to ask to speak to about these, but I have

not heard of any recent help in that direction from anyone in ASC for about 1.5 yrs.

A general search of actual Apple resellers (not free or download sites, since there

are no downloads of official Apple OS X software; and plenty of malware or scam

items that may be anything but the correct product) in google or yahoo may yield

some names. Places such as powerbookmedic, powermax, wegenermedia, and

others may be able to direct you search efforts if they have nothing.

Usually you need to boot the computer from the correct supported DVD system media

and use a menu bar selection to choose to reset password; or to totally erase & install

the system. The basic retail install DVD will not have any of the extra applications

that these computers included when new, such as AppleWorks, iLife, etc. That was on

a second DVD in the original software, or a retail version of each named major software.

Sites such as Everymac.com and download information databases such as mactracker.ca

can be helpful in determining the correct part numbers for the original software disc set

the computer may have shipped with when new. They may be for an older system that

pre-dated Leopard 10.5 by one or two full systems. Narrow the field by serial number

and build model identifiers, etc. This may take time. And some places love to sell you

what they have, even if it does not really work or won't work at all...

Sorry to not be of much help. Time has gone by and several known sources of

product have evaporated or have less chance of locating the correct items...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

See this…

http://www.theinstructional.com/guides/how-to-re-run-the-os-x-setup-assistant

Find a disk as K suggested, it will be needed for repairs or if the OS needs a reinstall.

The Setup Assistant, when performed from single-user or command-line, is a way

around one admin account without a password; however the reference article does

assume a later OS X is in use, and not necessarily a vintage PowerPC model.

And an install-restore or retail Leopard 10.5 DVD (not one from a different model

or one that is grey from any other version build except an identical PowerBook)

is the recommended route to be able to run the Disk Utility, and perform all other

kinds of functions, such as reformat a replacement hard drive, and so on.

Thanks for contributing this information! 🙂

I remember doing it on 10.4 or 10.3 on a G4, so I'm pretty certain it works but I haven't tested.

JeriGn, if the 'rm' reports 'file not found' post back & I'll dig out a PPC image to check the file path.

Good luck

Edit: Post ruined by iOS (yet again).

JeriGn wrote:

The chances of getting an OS disk affordably are almost nil. The first link I tried worked until I goofed things up and need to redo. Would it be possible to get that link again? Thank you

The link that is still visible above?

I don't recall posting another one and the site still seems to be working for me