Comments on: Reset a Lost Password in Mac OS X with a Boot Disk

By: Andreea

Andreea — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 04:56:29 +0000

I try to do this but holding down the C doesn’t bring anything up even when I try restarting the computer. How do I make sure it does?

By: MJDoko

MJDoko — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:48:09 +0000

Followed the process meticulously, but sadly at the “Reset Password” window, there is only the Mac Os Installation DVD volume available. My HD were the password is on did not show.

Also tried the other process of using the Command + S and sadly too the terminal window wont last more than couple of seconds before launching back to the log in window on its own. I guess these are some of the security improvements that Leopard has brought to the fold.

Any other way of getting into my system, without having to reformat because, my files are not backup at all.

By: Forgot Mac Password? | hightechidea.com

Forgot Mac Password? | hightechidea.com — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 08:00:18 +0000

[...] is borrowed from our article on how to reset a lost password with a CD. This is obviously an easier method but it’s of no help if you own a MacBook Air with no DVD [...]

By: paul

paul — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 20:04:56 +0000

not true – the air has a restore usb disk; i’ve got one, and this does seem to be a security hole since one can easily reset admin and root passwords using the aoo

By: Forgot Mac Password? How to Reset Your Mac Password (with or without CD) - OS X Daily

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:39:04 +0000

[...] is borrowed from our article on how to reset a lost password with a CD. This is obviously an easier method but it’s of no help if you own a MacBook Air with no DVD [...]

By: Anon A Moose!

Anon A Moose! — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:14:04 +0000

Working in Apple tech support, this tool is freaking invaluable. Do you know how many people call every day because they forgot their passwords (hint: it’s more than five)?

By: word more

word more — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:10:27 +0000

Just go download a torrent for the version of os x you have, burn the .dmg file to a disk, and you have a new disk. BUT DON”T DO THIS BECAUSE IT IS ILLEGAL!!!

By: Prashant Srivastava

Prashant Srivastava — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:50:31 +0000

Ok. I know the process you have explained here. But I have another problem that I have lost my Mac OS X install disk and I have forgotten my password. But I set my system as automatic login, so I have access to my system but I am unable to change the password and I can not configure my OS X becoz it asks for the system password which I have lost. So if anyone can help me here I would be thankful to him….

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:37:29 +0000

@Arie
Physical access is root access. No matter how hard you try there are always ways around passwords as long as someone has physical access to your computer. Some methods just take a bit more knowledge than others. An install disk is unnecessary to complete this task although it is much more convenient.

By: Murphy

Murphy — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:36:59 +0000

@Arie It’s a pretty standard expectation to be able to unlock a user account with relative ease when you have physical access to a machine. If that’s not enough security for you encryption is probably what you’re looking for.

I thought this was great when it came out…
http://creativetechs.com/tips/tip_resources/PocketMod/MyMacWontStart-PocketMod.pdf

By: Arie van Boxel

Arie van Boxel — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:25:07 +0000

@Sven

If you mean a firmware password then I agree.

By: xylo

xylo — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:51:30 +0000

use filevault and nobody can see your files ever, and if you ever forget the filevault password, youll never be able to see them yourself. secure as it gets.

By: Sven

Sven — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:11:28 +0000

no, it isnt. if you set Master password you cant do this. So set a master password

By: Arie van Boxel

Arie van Boxel — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:24:28 +0000

So this is a big security hole? Anyone with an install disk can see my files after changing the password?