User lost Mac admin password

[drjones]

Hi, have a possible new client who called & I wanted to research his problem before driving to him.

He has a Mac and lost/forgot the admin password. On Macs, you can configure it so that it requires the password before allowing you to install software & do just about anything else, so the machine is all but useless without the admin password.

How do we work around this? I believe that doing a complete reset/restore IS an option, if it came down to that, as he has very basic needs.

Obviously would prefer a simpler workaround, but whatever works I guess...

Thanks!

 

[altrenda]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=reset+mac+password

Sorry, couldn't resist

 

[drjones]

Man, thanks!

Let's just shut down this and all other discussion forums! Why do we need them when there's google so that I can waste time slogging through search results posted by people as kind & knowledgeable as you!

 

[compnet]

There are pretty simple directions for multiple ways to change or remove passwords on macs that would take you less time to find on google than it did to type up your OP.

On a tech forum I would expect this thread to be about someone tried pw reset on the install disk and single user mode, THEN did a google search, and there is still some issue.

 

[altrenda]

Hi, have a possible new client who called & I wanted to research his problem before driving to him.

By research you mean asking this question on TN?

He has a Mac and lost/forgot the admin password. On Macs, you can configure it so that it requires the password before allowing you to install software & do just about anything else, so the machine is all but useless without the admin password.!

OK, not an unusual problem

How do we work around this? I believe that doing a complete reset/restore IS an option, if it came down to that, as he has very basic needs.

Is that what you would do on a Windows machine for a lost password?

Obviously would prefer a simpler workaround, but whatever works I guess...

By simple, do you mean something other than the hundreds of articles and youtube videos showing how to accomplish this relatively simple task?

Man, thanks!

Let's just shut down this and all other discussion forums! Why do we need them when there's google so that I can waste time slogging through search result posted by people as kind & knowledgeable as you!

You're welcome. And here's a tip from Bryce. How to Ask Good Questions.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Man, thanks!

Let's just shut down this and all other discussion forums! Why do we need them when there's google so that I can waste time slogging through search results posted by people as kind & knowledgeable as you!

So you'd rather waste everyone else's time with us regurgitating information information that can be found by typing a simple sentence into a search box and researching a few links. Sorry if you can't be bothered, but maybe yahoo answers is where you should be asking for help if you really don't feel like putting forth any effort whatsoever.

How do we work around this? I believe that doing a complete reset/restore IS an option, if it came down to that, as he has very basic needs.

BTW, if you really think a nuke and pave is needed as a fix for a password reset on a Mac, do your potential client a favor and refer them to someone who has a clue of how to support Macs.

 

[NETWizz]

Um... You just boot the OS X DVD (or USB Key) and there is a tool in there for resetting the password.

You can hold down "Option" when booting to get a list of boot choices.

 

[nightkingdoms]

You've been given several clues on how to reset the password without an N&P. Obviously we're not going to give you the step-by-step on how to properly do a quick password reset on a Mac. It's akin to giving you the step-by-step on doing it in Windows.

You can find this information in several places online doing simple searches as pointed out, but you won't get it here.

To save you some time for a mac: it will be all terminal-based and one step of the commands entered changes with which version it is. Entire process takes about 3 mins or less and does *not* require any downloads, CDs, USB devices or other special hardware, it's built-in. Anything that tells you different is trying to sell something or infect you.

 

[NETWizz]

I don't see why you are all making such a big deal out of it...

 

[altrenda]

Not much of a big deal. Guy asked an end user question in the Tech to Tech section, got sent to Google for answers, got huffy about not being spoon fed an answer, and people responded in kind.