Lorenjash

Q: How can you access a computer that has been password protected after death?

How can you access a computer after death that has been password protected?

iMac

Posted on Mar 24, 2015 11:22 AM

Close

Q: How can you access a computer that has been password protected after death?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Mar 24, 2015 11:25 AM in response to Lorenjash
    Level 9 (51,382 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 24, 2015 11:25 AM in response to Lorenjash

    Which password, user or firmware?

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Mar 24, 2015 11:25 AM in response to Lorenjash
    Level 10 (271,789 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 24, 2015 11:25 AM in response to Lorenjash

    Password protected how? Are you just referring to a login password or an account's admin password?

  • by Lorenjash,

    Lorenjash Lorenjash Mar 24, 2015 11:33 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 24, 2015 11:33 AM in response to Csound1

    The main password to login to the computer.  I'm doing some research as to steps someone would take if this information is not passed on before death.  I contacted Apple and they were oddly very weird about giving their procedures.

  • by Lorenjash,

    Lorenjash Lorenjash Mar 24, 2015 11:34 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 24, 2015 11:34 AM in response to Kappy

    Yes, main admin password, thanks.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Mar 24, 2015 11:38 AM in response to Lorenjash
    Level 9 (51,382 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 24, 2015 11:38 AM in response to Lorenjash

    Without proof that you legally have the right to access the Mac Apple can not tell whether they should help. There are published (by Apple) methods to reset the user account passwords without knowing what they are by using Recovery mode.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Mar 24, 2015 11:43 AM in response to Lorenjash
    Level 6 (14,567 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 24, 2015 11:43 AM in response to Lorenjash

    Depending on the version of operating system and the level of protection afforded the

    main user admin account, or perhaps the whole hard drive (file vault or total encryption)

    the effort may vary. Also, depending on the computer hardware build model, it may be

    possible to get past some hardware entrenched security. Physical access to the Mac

    and in some instances, changing the configuration of memory capacity, could be used

    to help get past some kinds of secure block.

     

    •Apple OS X Security Configuration Guides - Apple Support (.PDF)

    https://www.apple.com/support/security/guides/

     

    There are reasons why some items are harder to remove than others, if you are only

    dealing with an Admin password, it may be possible to start the computer anyway

    but from a retail install-restore DVD and access tools made available from the Installer.

     

    •results of topic search: OS X reset admin password - google:

    https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=OS+X+reset+admin+password

     

    •Five Ways to reset a Lost Admin Password - tidBiTs:

    http://tidbits.com/article/14437

     

    There is a way to reset the Admin password from the Installer DVD. Then boot the

    computer from the hard drive (using another menu-bar choice within the Installer) so

    as to return to running the Mac from its own hard disk drive version OS X. To re-set

    the Admin password, is to replace the old one by this method, with one you create.

    There are other method of perhaps making a new Admin account and then transfer

    access to those existing older Admin account files to the new Admin account.

     

    A command-line or single-user mode access may be possible, too; that implies a

    startup into the terminal screen so commands to undercut the user interface may

    be applied to the basic system beneath the visual OS X, then restart to see effect.

     

    •How to reset your Admin Password - Yosemite 10.10 (and back to 10.8.5?)

    http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/os-x-yosemite-how-to-reset-your-administr ator-password

     

    Older OS X versions (Snow Leopard & earlier) see:

    •OS X: Changing or resetting an account password (Snow Leopard and earlier) - Apple Support

     

    Newer OS X versions (Lion 10.7 & Later) see:

    •OS X: Changing or resetting an account password - Apple Support

     

    There is a fair amount of reading. You may also consider an Apple authorized service

    provider or Apple Store genius, but you may have to call ahead and also have proof

    of the ownership has been transferred or of legal access to the deceased's property.

    A manager may be able to help you if you end up doing this. Usually there is a fee

    for someone to go into a computer and try to retrieve documents or attempt to access

    files that are almost unreachable. Certain secure methods are almost impossible.

     

    Sorry for not spelling out a simple method, not knowing the exact circumstances.

    Good luck & happy computing!

     

    PS: this reply started prior to any other replies