Instructions for the Mac OS X Password Recovery.
Although there’s no real way to recover a lost root password, you can change the root password even if you do not know the current one. You must have physical access to the machine in order to accomplish this task.
1. Click Restart at the login window
2. While the computer is restarting, hold down “Command-S” until you see text scrolling through the window. This boots the computer into single user mode.
3. At the Localhost% prompt type:
/sbin/fsck -y
/sbin/mount -uw /
/sbin/SystemStarter
You will then see various services starting up.
4. When the Localhost% prompt reappears, type:
passwd [username]
It will then ask you to type the new root password twice, so do so.
(Though I’ve not tried it, it appears you can type niutil -list . /users to get a list if users if you do not know the username….if someone wants to verify this, I would be most appreciative).
5. After entering the new password, type:
reboot
6. At the login window, enter the username with the new password. Once you are logged in, you can use the Multiple Users application (/Applications/Utilities) to change your user’s password, or create a new user account.
Note: this may not work for newer versions of OS X; I think they did something about it in a security update. I hope this helps you with Macintosh password recovery.
If you’re interested in Cisco exam training, consider the various exams available, such as the 1Y0-259 exam. Achieving this certification right after the 1z0-042 is indeed quite rare. Such pros usually go on for 220-602 as well as 350-018 certifications. Even students of 350-029 have gone this route.
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I have made all the steps, but aftre the SystemStarter command, i have a PANIC error…… so ?? Any help ??
Ok. I bought a used powerbook g4 with no start up disc. I wanted to change passwords and somehow locked myself out. I was able to access using the root user thing. but don’t want to continue to use this to access my notebook. when i buy the new OS X tiger will I be able to change all that previuos users passwords or will it save it?I’m a new mac user and finding i little more difficult then windows. Although i must say mac seems to be very well protected.lol…I would have have been able to easily change or find passwords on a windows operating system. Any help will be greatly appreciated!
I have tried all combonations and i cannot change the password. I dont have the original master password and Im stumped now can someone please help.
if somebody can please help me…
first thing im running mac os x 10.3.9 and i go through the whole process of the commands and than when i reach the “passwd root” part it works and i change the root password but the only thing is that now when i reboot the computer and it reaches the login screen theres only one username there and no root, i have no idea how to login now as root because i dont have access to type in the username it has it already on the screen and also i can change the root password but i cant seem to change the username i tried everything… ex. “John Doe” i tried
passwd JohnD
passwd JDoe
passwd JohnDoe
i mean i was trying everything and it stinks because i can change the root but i cant login with it or dont know how and i cant change the username because i probably dont have the right username from the name on the login screen… please help if you can understand me, lol
Thanks so much for the update. Unfortunately what was mentioned above still doesn’t actually change root passwd for my system (running 10.3.9). Any further suggestions? Thanks so much.