rmtemplo

Q: retrieve admin password

Im trying to install my new anti virus but can't remember my admin password. How could I retrieve my admin password? I already clicked the arrow-in-a-circle icon but it didn't bring me to the "Reset Password" dialog.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Feb 20, 2015 7:52 AM

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Q: retrieve admin password

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  • by Rudegar,

    Rudegar Rudegar Feb 20, 2015 7:59 AM in response to rmtemplo
    Level 7 (28,556 points)
    Apple TV
    Feb 20, 2015 7:59 AM in response to rmtemplo
  • by rmtemplo,

    rmtemplo rmtemplo Feb 20, 2015 8:52 AM in response to Rudegar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 20, 2015 8:52 AM in response to Rudegar

    I already did that. Everytime I hit the lock icon its asking me for my admin password which i can't remember. As user, once i hit change password  its asking me also for the admin password.  Also, If i hit set apple ID, its also asking password. My password for my Apple ID is also not recognized.

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Feb 20, 2015 8:54 AM in response to rmtemplo
    Level 9 (58,446 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Feb 20, 2015 8:54 AM in response to rmtemplo

    I would caution against installing any antivirus software on OS X. Not only is it 10% unnecessary most antivirus apps tend to create more problems than they solve.

     

    May I ask why you think there is a need for an antivirus app?

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Feb 20, 2015 9:02 AM in response to rmtemplo
    Level 5 (7,527 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 20, 2015 9:02 AM in response to rmtemplo

    You have to know passwords to use the reset option to change them!

    Are you 100% certain you set a password? It is possible to have an empty password.

     

    It is possible to overwrite the user password if you boot into the recovery partition.

     

    It will mean that you lose access to all keychain items - does that seem OK to you (all saved passwords in the keychain will be inaccessible in that account)?

  • by rmtemplo,

    rmtemplo rmtemplo Feb 20, 2015 9:05 AM in response to rmtemplo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 20, 2015 9:05 AM in response to rmtemplo

    I need other options please… Retrieve or reset admin password

  • by dominic23,

    dominic23 dominic23 Feb 20, 2015 9:11 AM in response to rmtemplo
    Level 8 (41,641 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 20, 2015 9:11 AM in response to rmtemplo

    OS X 10.7 Lion, 10.8 Mountain Lion, 10.9 Mavericks and 10.10 Yosemite

     

    Reset Password

     

    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 under “Select user account”.

     

     

    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”.

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Feb 20, 2015 9:12 AM in response to rmtemplo
    Level 5 (7,527 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 20, 2015 9:12 AM in response to rmtemplo

    Backup before you begin just in case

     

    Boot holding cmd+R. Recovery mode should startup (assuming you have a recovery partition).

    Select Terminal from the Utilities menu.

    Enter the word…

    resetpassword

    … & hit return.

     

    The GUI app will open, select the main boot HD.

    Select your user admin account in the popup menu.

    Then click the Reset password button.

    Quit ResetPassword from the menu.

    Quit Terminal

    Reboot.

     

    The keychain will complain when you login to that account - I suggest you consider deleting that keychain & create a new one.

    OS X: Keychain Access asks for keychain "login" after changing login password - Apple Support

  • by rmtemplo,

    rmtemplo rmtemplo Feb 20, 2015 9:13 AM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 20, 2015 9:13 AM in response to rkaufmann87

    I was just advised to install anti virus even though it is apple, especially that my son is using the computer for online gaming. When I bought this before i intend not to buy anti virus anymore but the store where i bought this is recommending me to install one.

  • by rmtemplo,

    rmtemplo rmtemplo Feb 20, 2015 9:22 AM in response to dominic23
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 20, 2015 9:22 AM in response to dominic23

    If I follow this steps, do you recommend to backup also? I don't know how to do that. Is there possibility that I will lose my downloaded softwares or become inaccessible?

  • by pogster,

    pogster pogster Feb 20, 2015 9:23 AM in response to rmtemplo
    Level 4 (2,277 points)
    Apple Watch
    Feb 20, 2015 9:23 AM in response to rmtemplo

    I have no idea if this works or not as I've never used it. It is just one of those little tidbits you come across once in awhile and save for a rainy day just in case. You can try it or wait for someone to verify if it actually works.

     

    To reset the admin password, reboot the computer with cmd+R (the command key and the R key) held down. The Mac should reboot to the recovery partition. Click the Utilities menu, click Terminal. Type:

     

    resetpassword

     

    and you will be prompted to enter a new password.

     

    Note that this works only if you have 10.7 or newer installed; if you have 10.6 or earlier, you'll need the install DVD to do this.


    Edit: I see others have replied during my phone call.

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Feb 20, 2015 9:23 AM in response to rmtemplo
    Level 5 (7,527 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 20, 2015 9:23 AM in response to rmtemplo

    rmtemplo wrote:

     

    I was just advised to install anti virus even though it is apple, especially that my son is using the computer for online gaming. When I bought this before i intend not to buy anti virus anymore but the store where i bought this is recommending me to install one.

    rmtemplo wrote:

     

    I was just advised to install anti virus even though it is apple, especially that my son is using the computer for online gaming. When I bought this before i intend not to buy anti virus anymore but the store where i bought this is recommending me to install one.

    ClamXAV…

    http://www.clamxav.com

     

    It's a free AV scanner, it doesn't spend all it's time running too many background jobs or extra tools to clean things that do not need cleaning.

     

    On OS X you need to be careful by not installing any random apps from the internet - for kids with games that usually means junk apps that claim to give you extra in game stars or credits or other things that sound too good to be true.

     

    ClamXAV won't protect you from adware either (more junk that can inject adverts in browsing etc).

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Feb 20, 2015 9:35 AM in response to rmtemplo
    Level 5 (7,527 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 20, 2015 9:35 AM in response to rmtemplo

    'resetpassword' resets the admin account password via a tool that Apple made - it should be OK. The users files should remain in place.

     

    I recommend backing up because some people get upset when things go wrong & they lose data. If you have things you do not want to lose a backup is the only way to protect them. It should be fine - but I do not guarantee that, sometimes people make mistakes & accidents happen.

     

    There are free tools to backup if you have a spare disk large enough to duplicate the system onto.

     

    Ask if you need help backing up - there really is no excuse not to do so.

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Feb 20, 2015 10:42 AM in response to rmtemplo
    Level 9 (58,446 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Feb 20, 2015 10:42 AM in response to rmtemplo

    rmtemplo wrote:

     

    I was just advised to install anti virus even though it is apple, especially that my son is using the computer for online gaming. When I bought this before i intend not to buy anti virus anymore but the store where i bought this is recommending me to install one.

    IMHO you received poor advice. I also believe most experienced users will agree.

  • by dominic23,

    dominic23 dominic23 Feb 20, 2015 12:30 PM in response to rmtemplo
    Level 8 (41,641 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 20, 2015 12:30 PM in response to rmtemplo

    You should have a back up always.