[G4] Mac G4 Lost Password

[Ron Steinke]

On 30 Dec, 2004, at 12:53, Keith Whaley wrote:

David DelMonte wrote:

> not quite true. It will ask you to authenticate with the old pw before 
> you can change it.

You're absolutely right! I just checked it out, and without the old 
password, you're sunk!
I don't have an answer to your dilemma!

keith whaley

The most accurate note so far (in my experience and knowledge, which 
may not be fully complete yet) has been Alastair's. If the password in 
question is simply the Admin User's password, booting to the OS 
installation CD by holding down the "C" key at startup and selecting 
"Change Password" from the menu and then inserting a new password will 
indeed correct the problem and allow a new user to create a totally new 
password for use from then on.

However, if the password is there because the previous user activated 
FileVault through the "Security" option in the Account preferences, you 
are hosed to the max. Unless you can get the password from the previous 
user, you WILL NOT be able to break the security and will HAVE TO ERASE 
the drive and re-install the OS by starting the computer from the 
installation CD.

Sorry for the bad news, but it happens to the best of us at times.