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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Administrator Password

jcnathan - Sep 24, 2005 - 1:46 pm

I run my G4 with OS X10.3 which was an upgrade from OS 9.2.2.

I do not remember my administrator password, thus cannot upgrade my operating system. The only boot up CD I have is the 9.2.

How can I change my admin password?

Thanks,

Jerome

DeltaMac - Sep 24, 2005 - 2:29 pm

You said that you only have an OS 9 boot CD. You may need to boot to the OS X installer, changing the password is a simple process when you do that.

You should have an OS X installer CD available, as it can help with a variety of troubleshooting if your system does not seem to function properly. You had one at one time, there is only one normal way to install OS X, that's booting to an OS X installer. OS 9 does not upgrade to OS X, it only supports the install.

99% of application installs and system installs require your admin account password for OS X. I suggest that you use one that you can easily remember

Let me know how it goes...
- Dale

jcnathan - Sep 24, 2005 - 2:36 pm

How can I make an OS X installer CD?

Thanks,

Jerome

DeltaMac - Sep 24, 2005 - 2:54 pm

You can insert a real OS X install CD, and make a bootable disk image of that, and burn it to a CD-R - but you need to have a real OS X installer CD (and you could just use that.
Bottom line - You can't make an OS X installer CD - one ships with your Mac, or you have to purchase one. If you have a friend who uses OS X, they will have a disk. You can copy one using Toast software - or, if you know what you are doing, you can use the Disk Utility to copy a CD, but you have to make it bootable, or it won't help you at all.

- Dale

jcnathan - Sep 24, 2005 - 6:36 pm

Thanks Dale. Sounds like I need to take a trip to my friendly neighborhood Apple store.

While I am at it, should I buy an upgrade to Tiger or do I need to get Panther first to sort out this password issue and then upgrade to Tiger?

Jerome

DeltaMac - Sep 24, 2005 - 10:59 pm

If you don't have an installer CD for OS X, you can get Tiger. You will be able to reset the password from that disk OK.
When you get to the first screen to run the installer - you can go to the menus at the top of the screen, and choose Utilities, then click on Reset Password, and just choose your user name, Then you will be able to type in a new password. Pretty simple. Quit that, and continue on with the upgrade for Tiger.

- Dale