Howto reset an OSX-Admin Password – V.2

July 4th, 2007 at 20:23

Well there is another method, maybe even better then the solution i have posted here.

The scenario:

OSX installed
You forgot your account password
You want to have a working user account with admin-privileges

Follow those steps:

Boot info Safe Mode
1. Press Shift during startup (more about startup key-combos here)
Delete /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
1. Enter: “sudo rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone”
Reboot/ Shutdown
1. Enter: “sudo reboot” to reboot or
2. Enter: “sudo shutdown -h now” to shutdown

On the next boot your Mac will start up into the “Create-User” Part of the installation process. There you can easily create a new user account. Using that new account you can change the password of your old account in System Preferences and continue using the old account.

Please keep in mind that it is not a good idea to create the new user account with the same user name. I guess that would mess up more then you really want to.

Related 3rd party links:

Mac 101 at Tuaw

Tags: 10.4, admin-priv's, password, password restore, Restore, tuaw

Posted by fidel, in How to, Security, _english, mac

6 Responses to “Howto reset an OSX-Admin Password – V.2”

Melody Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 22:33
Thank you, I tried to go to the links for other solutions, however link came up 404 not found. 8-( If you have anyother advice I would appreciate it Thanks, Melody
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fidel Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 22:38
Hi Melody,

thanks for that comment – links were broken cause of a server-change in the past.
Fix’ed it just seconds ago

Best regards
fidel
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Melody Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 23:21
Your a doll mwah
Reply
happykaka Says:
June 10th, 2009 at 10:05
there is a solution for those who has forgotten their password. With no reinstalling, with no the original password, with no data loss, you can reset the password. As following,

1. Login to a computer that can link to Internet. Download Windows Password Unlocker 4.0 at http://www.passwordunlocker.com and decompress it on that PC. Note that: there is a .ISO file. Burn the .ISO file to a CD.
2 Get out the newly created CD and insert it to the locked computer.
3 Re-boot the locked computer and then followed the process of instructions. Just a few steps, the old password was removed.”
‘4 Setting new password:
Step one: Open the “Control Panel”
Step two: Click the “User Account ”
Step three: Select the account you wanna to set a new password.
Step four: Click “changing Account ” and “set up password”, then fill out the form as listed. Click “Create Password”.
Reply
fidel Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 11:40
@happykaka

as you don’t seem to realize that this topic is focused on Mac OS X and not on Windows i guess you dont care that i modificated your link

Right ?

Best regards
fidel
Reply
Melody Says:
June 12th, 2009 at 22:29
I wanted to thank you for your assistance, I was able to access everything. Thank you so very much. M_
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