Comments on: How to reset your Mac OS X password without an installer disc

By: Niknak

Niknak — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:35:45 +0000

What keys do you use what you have a PC keyboard ???

By: djtazma

djtazma — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:11:14 +0000

For systems with Mac OS X v10.4 to v10.4.11

1. Start up in single-user mode.

 2. Type: mount -uw / 

 3. Press Return.

4. Type this, then Press Return: sh /etc/rc

Note: There is no onscreen indication when the “rc” script is finished. When nothing happens for a while, it’s probably done. Press Return to produce a prompt.

5. Type this, then Press Return:

passwd (user’s short name)

Replace “(user’s short name)” with the short name of the user account whose password you wish to reset. If you are not sure what the account name is, you can get a list of user names by typing: ls /Users

6. Enter a new user password (and press Return).

7. Type: reboot 

8. Press Return.

By: djtazma

djtazma — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:07:26 +0000

1. Start up in single-user mode.

 2. Type: mount -uw / 

3. Press Return.

4. Type this, then press Return:
passwd (user’s short name)

6. Enter a new user password (and press Return).

 7. Type: reboot 

8. Press Return.

9. Done

By: David

David — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:31:45 +0000

Ok This is exactly what happens: I type in rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone and then I get this back : override rw- – - – - – root/wheel for /var/db/.AppleSetupDone?

What do I say to that??

By: Corin

Corin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:41:10 +0000

So I got pretty far… when I typed rm var/db/.AppleSetupDone all that happened was that it made a bunch of commands and then was like AppleSetupDone? and I didnt know if I say yes or not… so i just put in the shutdown part and the computer turned off…
Would anyone be willing to talk to me on the phone and help me throught this?

By: cristian

cristian — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:16:18 +0000

will it work on a macbook pro 13,3″ with snow leopard 10.6.2?
wich one of the three options should i take?

By: Lia

Lia — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:27:58 +0000

I can’t reboot it, Liked when i try to command+S than it wont work. It went to the Login Pagged. So I’m So confused what should i do?

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:41:01 +0000

Got through the first 3 steps and now it is saying no root file when I type in the rm/var/db/.AppleSetupDone. Any help? I am doing this on an old Imac that my daughter forgot her password on. Tahnks!

By: chitra

chitra — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:43:05 +0000

I did above method (for 10.5) when I reach line 5 and enter but it says, Socket not connected

By: dominicanswagger

dominicanswagger — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:17:09 +0000

when i put sh /etc/rc a lot of things come out them it turn on like normal but the password is still there

By: AG

AG — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:45:49 +0000

This process really worked for me, I was able to reset my powerbook g4 system with this method.
Thanks!

By: chitra

chitra — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:10:04 +0000

I also have lost login password my used computer. I try above first method when I type 5 line it says shocket not connected and no file or directory message. how can resolve it. when type reboot it reboot and reboot only never work.

By: RafDog

RafDog — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:54:48 +0000

Thanks so much! This worked perfectly on a 17″ Macbook Pro running 10.5

By: Wirbo

Wirbo — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:51:20 +0000

Thank you so much! Saved my day! :D

By: FrozenBook

FrozenBook — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:33:04 +0000

Thank’s a lot Doug!
Whether or not an attacker can bypass / reset this password, an additional level of difficulty is always the way to go.

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:40:16 +0000

@FrozenBook – Setting up an Open Firmware or EFI password should prevent this, but there are ways around that too. It at least makes it more difficult.
See apple link about Open Firmware and EFI:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352

By: Jay

Jay — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:05:00 +0000

This surely works. I used method 1 reset your 10.5 Leopard password and it was a breeze. I actually used it on snow leopard and it worked just fine. Thanks for the help!!!!!!!!!!!

By: FrozenBook

FrozenBook — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:14:22 +0000

Any suggestions on how to prevent this? (Besides avoiding physical access to the Laptop)

By: Aditya rama

Aditya rama — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:49:48 +0000

Thanks 10000x you saved my day!!!

By: Bette

Bette — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:25:14 +0000

Thank You…Thank YOU…THANK YOU!!!
Your instructions SAVED THE DAY!!!

I did, however, have to try it a few times as I didn’t know if there was a space or not.

THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: josh

josh — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:09:57 +0000

I tried method 1 and 3 without success did everything key for key twice and did nothing. Does this work

By: David

David — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:23:55 +0000

I used method 3 with success! Thanks for the info. Now I know what OS I have, also.

By: mike

mike — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:40:12 +0000

hi..i reset my computer using the third method stated above..i did this with three other macs and it worked awesome however, with my imac, when i got to the registration page i could not type in anything..why can i not type anything and how can i fix this? (i repeated the reset process and it did the same thing)

By: Oblea

Oblea — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:38:17 +0000

I have a 12″ MacBook pro. It wont reboot. It just stays on the grey screen with the apple logo. I tried the command c,fsck -fy, reboot routine but it just wont start.
I need help. Its my only computer and Im in the f***ing Artic. No reboot cds, tech support here.

Thanx a lot!