Question

admin password on iMac

Asked by: jfairley

Hi,
We have inherited an iMac (OS 9.2) and we need to access this to set-up for a new user, our problem is the old user has departed and not left the admin password. Is there anyway we can wipe the disk and start again. I have tied booting of CD but the iMac just ejects the CD on start-up. I have a firewire disk but there is no firewire connection, we are hoping there is a solution without us having to buy an usb device.

Thanks in advance

John

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Asked On
2004-03-02 at 07:29:07ID20904079
Tags

cd

,

password

Topic

Apple Operating Systems

Participating Experts
6
Points
250
Comments
11

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Answers

 

by: weedPosted on 2004-03-02 at 09:11:54ID: 10496820

Even a USB device isnt going to help you. If the password request pops up at boot, theyve enabled the system security and you need to call Apple for the workaround and to verify that you are in fact the owner of this machine.

Can you actually get to the finder or does it ask for a password before that?

 

by: PetectidPosted on 2004-03-02 at 11:46:44ID: 10498352

The security they have enabled is a Control panel called Multiple Users there are two ways you can try to hack this, if you have a bootable system cd.  You say that your iMac ejects the disk you were given with the machine, is there anything on the disk which would suggest it is an iMac system cd?  Boot from a bootable cd and remove the multiple users preference file HardDisk:SystemFolder:Preferences, then boot from the HardDisk to your desktop.

ALSO YOU COULD TRY

I have not got an iMac here to try this on, but at startup hold down the space bar, this will bring up the Extensions Manager uncheck the checkbox next to multiple users and press return to continue booting, I'm pretty certain this will work.  Holding down the shift key will start the machine with extensions off that may work to? though I'm not sure about that one, if you get to the desktop delete the above mention preference file to remove all the Multiple users settings and reboot straight to your desktop. Good Luck

 

by: weedPosted on 2004-03-02 at 11:51:41ID: 10498397

Not necessarily Multiple Users. There were ways to lock the system on a system-wide level. It actually modified blocks in the boot sector of the drive to prevent circumvention.

 

by: georgempPosted on 2004-03-04 at 22:16:53ID: 10520416

If you have a spare HD put that in...install OS 9 on that..boot off it. Shutdown, plugin your old drive as a slave and format it. Copy system folder from new drive to the old one(formatted). Bless the system folder. Disconnect the new drive and boot off the old one.
The only problem with this is you might have to do it with the case open and I am not sure if the iMacs support master/slave

 

by: macjraPosted on 2004-03-13 at 18:30:57ID: 10590499

Make sure that when you boot up from the iMac CD it is the iMac Install OS 9 Disc.
If you are successful you need to:
1. open your HD, system folder/ preferences
2. remove the preference multiple users: drag to trash
3. restart: the password shld no longer appear
4. you will need to reconfigure the  multiple users if u want to have security onyour computer

 if that does not work, you may need to contact apple for further assistance.

 

by: PetectidPosted on 2004-03-15 at 00:54:56ID: 10595825

Rewording my comment does not wash macjra, do you read all the comments before adding your own,?   You should do then you would not be repeating whats already been suggested.

 

by: macjraPosted on 2004-03-15 at 18:27:01ID: 10602783

Sorry Petectid didn't see your comment.

 

by: dfaccPosted on 2004-04-04 at 19:02:00ID: 10754410

you probably cant boot off the cd because its not the correct startup disk for the model...

or the disk could be scratched or just plain dirty...

clean it and or check for scratches on it,,if  you see that the disk is messed, try borrowing another os 9 cd....

what model of imac is it exactly as i have may have disk for you....

 

by: davidmccallisterPosted on 2004-04-09 at 23:25:33ID: 10795849

Hold down the option key during power on to let the mac see all startup devices.  If you get a "lock" icon the previous owner has set the open firmware password.  In that case, I have no idea how you can reset it.  Perhaps restting the PMU switch will clear it?  Unplug the power cord, press the PMU switch once, wait 10 seconds, plug in the power cord and turn on the Mac.  I'm not sure if this will fix situations where the firmware password has been set, but give it a try.

But if the open firmware password has not been set you should get an option to boot from the CD.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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