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	[x] Attachment Details

How do I reset the user password in OS 9.2.2 (or 10.3.9)

Zones: Mac OS 10.3 (Panther), Macintosh Classic Operating Systems

Tags: Apple, Mac, OS 9.2.2, OS X 10.3.9, Resetting password

I have a Power Mac G4 (PowerPC, 1GHz, 1GB RAM) that came to me with 10.3.9 installed and 9.2.2 running in Classic mode. The owner wanted to upgrade to Leopard, but needs the programs running in 9.2.2 for their business (Adobe PageMaker 6.5 and 7). Since Leopard doesn't support Classic mode, we opted to install a second HD and installed Leopard on that. I chose to migrate the settings from their other install and everything was great, until I tried to do a system update. It prompted me for a password, and they had no password previously on their 10.3.9 (and 9.2.2) installation.

I tried to change the password using the Leopard install disc, which let me into Leopard, but then it started asking for passwords for the keychain when I opened Safari. Rather than deal with the headaches, I went ahead and erased and reinstalled Leopard, but this time, I did not migrate anything. Leopard is now working great!

My problem now lies in the 10.3.9 install (with 9.2.2). When I boot to that drive, it asks for a username and password. The username I assigned to the Leopard install does not work, nor does just hitting the <enter> key. I am now locked out of the OS they require for those legacy apps. I googled some stuff, and found some entries dealing with booting while holding Command-S, which did bring me to a command prompt.

The help I found was as follows:
At the Localhost% prompt type:
/sbin/fsck -y
/sbin/mount -uw /
/sbin/SystemStarter
You will then see various services starting up.
When the Localhost% prompt reappears, type:
passwd [username]
It will then ask you to type the new root password twice, so do so.

The problem is that I don't get a "Localhost%" prompt, and at the top it makes reference to 9.2.2. I tried the commands anyway, and got nowhere.

HELP! I need to get into this 10.3.9 (with 9.2.2) session. How can I reset the password for this OS (or OSes).

I appreciate any and all help you can provide.

Yours truly,

Vic Wukovits

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Question Stats

Zone: Apple

Question Asked By: wukovits

Solution Provided By: strung

Participating Experts: 1

Solution Grade: B

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