Forgot Admin Password stuck as Guest User

[MMottster]

I have an iMAC. Older version 2003. It is up to date with whatever OS system it can handle (no Siri). I forgot my Admin Password. Now I am stuck as the guest user.

Prior to getting stuck as the Guest, I tried going into users and groups. Since I don't know my old password, it won't let me change to a new one. No matter how many times I put in the wrong password it never gives me the option of a hint or to use my Apple ID password. Per Google search there was an option to reboot while holding down the command key and R. I do not have a mac key board.

PLEASE SOMEONE HELP!!!!

 

[chscag]

We need to know the exact model 2003 iMac you have (there were three models) and which version of macOS it is running. And... do you have the original disk set that came with your iMac? The original disk set is important because you can reset your admin password by booting from the disk.

 

[MMottster]

We need to know the exact model 2003 iMac you have (there were three models) and which version of macOS it is running. And... do you have the original disk set that came with your iMac? The original disk set is important because you can reset your admin password by booting from the disk.

Thank you chscag,

I was wrong, my iMAC is early 2009, running OS X El Capitan.

I went digging through all my old CD's and boxed stuff from the time I purchased my machine. I have discs listed as Protection Plan, iLife and iWork.

I don't know if any of those are what we need????

 

[chscag]

OK, that should be easier. Do this: Reboot your iMac and hold down the Command key and the R key at the same time. That will boot the machine to Recovery. When in Recovery, select Utilities. From Utilities, select Terminal. When the Terminal opens, enter "resetpassword" without the quotes. Then type in the new password and exit the Terminal. Exit Utilities and reboot the machine. Now you can enter your new password.

 

[Csmac]

He said he doesn't have a Mac keyboard so doesn't have a Command Key. Is there any work around that?

 

[Slydude]

Use the Windows key on that PC keyboard instead of the Command key. You might find this list of keyboard equivalents helpful until you get the hang of them.

 

[macgig]

try this, it works. I did it on an older 2007 imac with el capitan. do the steps in order.

I pretended to not know the admin password and this worked and gave me root access.

 

[MMottster]

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!! I got my computer back!!

 

[pm-r]

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!! I got my computer back!!

Do you need to give anyone here a thumbs-up credit for your success, that you may just want to do???




- Patrick
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[macgig]

did My tip work or was it another one? just wondering.

 

[IWT]

And something I'd quite like to know:

when you reset your password, nearly always this means that your Keychain is no longer accessible. In other words all passwords and log in data are gone, which is a hassle rather than a tragedy.

How about your Keychain? Old one still there, or had to start a new one?

Ian

 

[pm-r]

And something I'd quite like to know:

when you reset your password, nearly always this means that your Keychain is no longer accessible. In other words all passwords and log in data are gone, which is a hassle rather than a tragedy.

How about your Keychain? Old one still there, or had to start a new one?

Ian

+1.

And I'd like to know as well as that seems to have been the case unless one used Apple's builtin method for any username password change.




- Patrick
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