Tech-Recipes - Latest Comments in Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

williamsr — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:37:07 -0000

i have a imac with 10.5.8. i just bought an old imac g3 with 10.3. i dont have the passwords for the g3. i have taken the hard drive out and connected it to my new imac. but i still can not change the passwords on the hard drive. is there a way to do this.

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

drewgost — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:36:55 -0000

After you type the above commands and reboot I notice that the white screen shows up for 30 seconds then boots into original user. I never see the prompt I just type the commands but never see any typing but it does reboot when i hit enter I am using an external screen.

Am I supposed to enter a password when the white terminal screen shows up?

Please help

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

grantrob — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:09:18 -0000

I recently bought an iMac G3. Ido not know the password. I am using a windows keyboard. When I boot m mac the windows + s has no effect! If you can please help me that would be great.

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

George — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:04:58 -0000

I need to reset my administrator password on my mac. I have followed instructions according to the apple website but it doesn't work. When I attempt to open the install disc on the computer it asks me for the password. Kinda defeats the purpose, I don't know the password. Is there anyway around this or am out of luck.

Please help

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

emilymcg — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:09:25 -0000

Thank You!!! You are our hero! This saved us such headaches! Our computer will not be a paperweight! Good luck to everyone!

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

lewisj — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:21:07 -0000

Hi everyone,

I tried to reset password via....

1. boot computer and hold the "apple" key and the "s" key.
2. wait for terminal show
3. release keys
4. type without the quotes: "/sbin/mount -uaw"
5. press enter
6. type without the quotes: "rm /var/db/.applesetupdone
7. press enter
8. type without the quotes: "reboot"
9. press enter

But now it just comes up with a select language page and when I choose english it loads up the System Administrator account. I can not log in as anyone else even if I create new users. In this state I try to log out, shut down etc, but nothing happens. Does anyone know what has happened here. Help is so so appreciated.

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

carlos — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:27:10 -0000

where do i type that? whats the sudo comand?

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

SK — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:35:11 -0000

I want to reset password on my mac. Today morning it asked me to login with user name and password, it never asked me admin password. I entered the correct password but it is not working. I tried to reset the password and hint using OS X disk, but it still not accepting my new password. I can see the password hint changed, but whenever I try to do some administrative task, it will ask me admin password and reject it. Please help me to solve this issue. I can login to my account using OS X disk but when I will enter my admin password to do some administrative task it is rejecting my password.

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

in2town — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:15:26 -0000

it is good to know that you can get advice, i recently lost my password so i will try this and see if it works

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

Shiv — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:28:08 -0000

well this is quite a simple one and might not work for you, but if you have any other account on your mac( admin) then you can simply
1. go to system preferences
2. select the user from the left sidebar
3.click reset password.
4. it will ask you for a new password.

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

Joe T Lor — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:57:32 -0000

I can not start my G4 lost the password OS

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

thomas — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:18:49 -0000

i just baught this cpu and i dont have the cd but there is a password on it that i dont know what it is every time i try to download any thing it asks for it but i havent the foggiest. if any one knows how to get rid of this or knows any thing about these cpus please help im now ofically lost. please help me

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

Erkan — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:34:18 -0000

Hi I can not acces command s . And forgot password and master and don.t have installation cd. Is there any diferent way ?

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

Matt — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:58:08 -0000

If my MAC is stolen how does this prevent anyone with a leopard disk from recovering my password for my file vault account?
ie: change root password, then change account password, then login, and steal company files?

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

eliza6226 — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:10:34 -0000

I have a Mac Mini with OSX 10.5.6.

I have an admin password, and used your recipe to obtain another root password. However, when I try and log in the a new terminal window with the new root password it says "unknown command"

What have I done incorrectly?

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

Mohit — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:00:48 -0000

Thanks a lot . i helps. I was able to change my password. I am really new to mac and linux, so dont know so many commands

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

keef — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:19:21 -0000

thank you very much, your instructions worked a treat.

i was trying to delete some files that were locked and hidden inside an app. v frustrating for a control freak like me. now very happy your simple instructions allowed me to change the root password, which i had forgotten. still wondering what it was... ???

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

rex2930 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:56:25 -0000

I realy need your help i am getting frustrated badly step 1 to 5 works fine but when i try to do step 6, is says the following rm/var/db/ : no such fle or directory wth am i doing wrong Please write back ASAP

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

rex2930 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:32:42 -0000

how do u no wth version of Mac Window base do u have i currenly los my passwork and my master password but tried everything wth u guys had down there Mac OS X 10.4 but do u do that if u cant get into your on Mac

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

Manda — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:28:08 -0000

Will this work with filevault active?

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

Ad — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:46:38 -0000

Hi Can anybody help me? I couldnt remember my password to my ibook so i used this 1. boot computer and hold the "apple" key and the "s" key.
2. wait for terminal show
3. release keys
4. type without the quotes: "/sbin/mount -uaw"
5. press enter
6. type without the quotes: "rm /var/db/.applesetupdone
7. press enter
8. type without the quotes: "reboot"
9. press enter
which worked great but when i got into my ibook everything that was on it had dissapered!! can anybody tell me how i can get the photos and music back that is on the system somewhere my hard drive is only showing 5 gig available and im about 9gig missing if somebody could tell me how to access these files i would me most gratefull Thanks

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

jB — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:32:45 -0000

Bad Title!
In no way does this recover the lost password!
It is useful for resetting the password.
Important difference.

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

les — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:23:19 -0000

i lost my disc.s for back up and for got pass word to get in to my mac g4

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

kathy — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:01:28 -0000

Wow thank you so very much! It worked the very first time!

Re: Mac OS X recover lost root password | Apple Mac | Tech-Recipes

Nikki G. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:47:46 -0000

OK I have a MAC OS X
Lost password
NO administrator account
Only One
Can't find software
HELP