Resetting Password error message

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Level 1

8 points

Resetting Password error message

In attempting to make a usable laptop for a fifth grader, I'm the one getting an education while goofing things up. He does not want moms name as a user name, so I want to change it. I know I followed the instructions from the first time I asked the question and all went well, resulting in my name as user. Now I want to change it and can't find my notes with the password. When i've tried several times with the same instructions, I always get a file not found after the last step of entering the AppleSetupDone string. What have I done wrong now and how do I fix it?😕

PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Feb 13, 2015 10:40 AM

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Answer 1

my ginger

Level 5

4,904 points

Feb 14, 2015 5:22 PM in response to JeriGn

Hi. I'm not sure if you are at a login screen or using terminal commands or in users , but you can in single user mode set up the Power book to login as it is being setup for the first time. Here is a link that shows how this is done. http://www.theinstructional.com/guides/how-to-re-run-the-os-x-setup-assistant

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Answer 2

my ginger

Level 5

4,904 points

Feb 14, 2015 5:53 PM in response to JeriGn

If you can't do it this way here is another way from single user mode.http://osxdaily.com/2011/04/25/change-admin-password-mac/

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Answer 3

JeriGn Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 15, 2015 9:39 AM in response to my ginger

I used command + S as I did in first time. that took me to terminal and I then proceeded with the instructions. The first time everything went smoothly and it took me to setting up my new account. Not this time as it can't find the last file Iine I typed in. Are you not allowed to change your password more than once?

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Answer 4

JeriGn Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 20, 2015 6:45 AM in response to JeriGn

No matter how many times I type in the last line (rm /var/db/ .AppleSetupDone) I get the no file found error message. Would someone please check my spacing/typing to see if this is correct? Thank you

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Answer 5

my ginger

Level 5

4,904 points

Feb 20, 2015 8:47 AM in response to JeriGn

Hi I found another way to go into single users and redo the password. It's a little longer, but should work. http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/03/how-to-reset-your-mac-os-x-password-withou t-an-installer-disc/

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Answer 6

JeriGn Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 20, 2015 9:24 AM in response to JeriGn

Problem solved at least partially I found my error in entering part of the last entry with a space. Now I am stuck at the password entry. Is there a special format that I need? Caps, numbers, etc It is rejecting each of my entries so far.

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Answer 7

my ginger

Level 5

4,904 points

Feb 20, 2015 10:29 AM in response to JeriGn

Hi. Are using the apple setup done? Or the last link I gave you? Are you getting an error (launchct1: couldn't stat no such file) If so ignore type password and reboot. If not what are you getting.

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Answer 8

JeriGn Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 20, 2015 4:00 PM in response to my ginger

Thanks for all the help received🙂 My problem resulted from incorrect spacing on the last terminal entry. Now my son has a working laptop and a password he can live with. It was hard to determine exactly where the spacing should be. I thought there was a space following db/.

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