Computer was wiped clean...don't know admin password

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Level 1

0 points

Computer was wiped clean...don't know admin password

I recently wiped my hard drive clean because I had to much on my computer.

I wanted to download a program today and the computer asked for my admin password. The username said 'User,' so I managed to change that. But it wants me to type in the old password to set up a new one.

How do I have an old admin password when the computer was wiped clean?

Thanks,

Tiffany

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Mar 29, 2015 9:15 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Mar 29, 2015 9:34 AM in response to shemings1

Because when you set up the initial account during the Setup Assistant you were asked to provide a password.

Forgot Your Account Password

For Lion, Mountain Lion, or Mavericks

Boot to the Recovery HD:

Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.

When the menubar appears select Terminal from the Utilities menu.

Enter resetpassword at the prompt and press RETURN. Follow

instructions in the dialog window that will appear.

Or see:

Reset a Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Password

OS X Mountain Lion- Reset a login password,

OS X Mavericks- Solve password problems,

OS X Lion- Apple ID can be used to reset your user account password.

For Snow Leopard and earlier with installer DVD

Mac OS X 10.6- If you forget your administrator password,

OS X- Changing or resetting an account password (Snow Leopard and earlier).

For Snow Leopard and earlier without installer DVD