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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Can't Login! Forgot Password

ccommie - May 23, 2005 - 6:38 pm

I have a imac 500MHZ, 30GB, runnin on 9.2 OS, I am a pc specialist so have no clue on macs, but I was given a mac because they had forgotten their password, I can't log on and do not have any OS cd's, How can I erase the hard drive? and or obtain a new password?

DeltaMac - May 23, 2005 - 7:44 pm

The only time I see OS 9 Macs with a password, is for connection to a network (school, business, whatever). This is often a password used to connect to a Mac OS server, and would be useless without the network access.
Another password is a firmware password. You will get this if you hold the option key during boot (this is one way used to select an alternate boot disk), If a firmware password is set, you will be asked for it at this screen. Or, press option-Apple-O-F, and you will get the Open firmware screen, similar to a BIOS screen, you can't do anything there without being asked for a password. You can reset this password, by taking out one memory chip if there is two. or adding a (PC133 SDRAM) memory chip if only one slot is filled.

You will need a Mac OS CDs. You can't do anything else, unless you can reinstall the OS.
The iMac can use Mac OS 9, or any version of OS X, with the better version something later than Mac OS X 10.2 OS X will ask for a new password when reinstalled, as part of the new user setup.

- Dale
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