Question

Lost Admin Password on Macbook (OS 10.5 Leopard)

Asked by: anushahanna

We have a MacBook and seems like our Admin password is not working anymore (It beats us as we used the book for all this time, just beats us).

We looked up on google, and Apple help, and they ask us to put the Install CD and restart the computer. But when I try to do that, it is asking for Admin password to allow a restart. So it is a catch 22 situation. I am restarting to reset my admin pw, but I am not able to reboot without a Admin password.

please help.
thanks

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Asked On
2009-08-13 at 18:43:45ID24651805
Topics

Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard)

,

Apple Laptop

,

Apple Operating Systems

Participating Experts
5
Points
500
Comments
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Answers

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-13 at 18:58:36ID: 25094753

Is it recommended to remove the battery to do this task (while the computer is on), which of course, i prefer not to.

 

by: jason099Posted on 2009-08-13 at 18:59:50ID: 25094762

Hello,

Insert the install disk, restart the computer, and hold down the C-key. This will boot to the install disk. You will choose your language and hit Continue. On the upper menu bar, you will see an option titled Utilities. Click and choose Reset Admin Password.

If you are following the above steps and are seeing a lock on the screen asking for an admin password while you are holding down the C key, then there is an EFI password on the computer. To reset the EFI password, you will need to remove a stick of RAM from the computer and repeat the process above.

Hope this helps.

 

by: jason099Posted on 2009-08-13 at 19:03:49ID: 25094770

Correction: Once you boot to the install disk, you will choose your language, click continue, and then choose Reset Password from the Installer Menu.


Check out this Apple Support document:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/11627.html

 

by: nappy_dPosted on 2009-08-13 at 19:22:17ID: 25094843

Do this from the terminal. No CD required.

Hold CMD+S when booting to enter single user mode

Type: sh /etc/rc

Type: passwd yourusername

Type: exit

You are done!

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-13 at 20:01:04ID: 25094964

jason099
thanks, but the system is asking for admin pw before the restart. If I can get to the restart, that will be great, but I am not able to.

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-13 at 20:02:31ID: 25094968

nappy_d
Can you please guide me how to get to the 'terminal'.

When you say 'Hold CMD+S when booting to enter single user mode', are you meaning after a reboot.

as I am new to MAC, I need to ask for these small details..

Thanks

 

by: jason099Posted on 2009-08-13 at 20:12:03ID: 25095005

If you insert the install disk and double click on the Install Mac OS X, that's when you need an admin password. This isn't what you want to do.

Insert the install disk, Click on the Apple logo in the upper left hand corner of the screen, choose restart, after you hear the chime hold down the C-key. This will boot your computer to the Install Disk. If you are doing this and the computer is telling you to type an admin password, let us know.

If you would like to follow nappy_d's solution, double-click on Macintosh HD, double-click on Applications, double-click on Utilities. In the Utilities folder, you will find an application called Terminal. Double-click on Terminal and follow his steps above.

Be careful in Terminal -- Make sure you don't mistype something.

 

by: jason099Posted on 2009-08-13 at 20:16:55ID: 25095019

Actually what nappy_d is suggesting is to:

Reboot the computer and hold down the CMD+S keys. This will boot you in single-user mode.

Then (from nappy_d's post above) Type: sh /etc/rc

Type: passwd yourusername

Type: exit

Do not do this from Terminal located in the Utilities folder.

 

by: nappy_dPosted on 2009-08-13 at 20:16:57ID: 25095020

Just power the laptop oof by holding the power button down for 10 seconds.

Power the laptop on and follow my 4 steps.

 

by: hobowankenobiPosted on 2009-08-13 at 22:07:45ID: 25095384

Sound like the firmware is password protected.  Who's laptop was this?  Not a default setup.

 

by: FDomingos88Posted on 2009-08-17 at 19:02:57ID: 25119711

Try to reset NVRAM by pressing Option-Command-P-R until you hear 2 beeps.

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-17 at 19:23:17ID: 25119773

Thanks. I will try these options in a couple of days, when I will have the laptop back.

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-26 at 12:04:43ID: 31615631

Thankfully, there was no EFI password.

 

by: xArturoxPosted on 2009-10-26 at 13:43:01ID: 25666650

from the command line:

-> Shut down the computer if it is on.
-> Press the power button to start the computer.
-> Immediately press and hold the Command (Apple) key and the "s" key for single-user mode.
-> Type "mount -uw /" and press return.
-> Type "passwd" and press return.
-> Enter new password (this will be for the root user account) and press return.
-> Type "reboot" and press return.
-> Enter Account settings and when prompted for administrator account and password, use the user name root and the password you just setup
-> Check box for you standard account to administrate box
-> If all goes well you are admin again.

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-10-26 at 14:05:04ID: 25666899

Thanks xArturox for putting it in a step-by-step detailed format. Appreciate your input. Welcome to EE! you will be an asset in the coming days.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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