Thanks so much. On Apr 22, 2012, at 1:12 PM, Lewis Alexander wrote:
> exactly the info I was going to refer to, though my concern for stacey is a > question of having the support and competence to perform this, this > particular set of instructions, if done incorrectly can cause harm to the > overall stability of the OS, hence, as you say, sighted assistance to do this. > > the other part to this but not attached to this matter is if you visit your > supplier, explaining that your system was not provided with system disks, > you, more than any sighted user need the installation media if something goes > wrong or you need to diagnose a problem with voiceover outside the normal > parameters of the OS. > > basically, make sure you ask for the installation CD for snow leopard so > that any further work can be done, they should also be able to help on the > password recovery. > > stacey, good luck. esther, thanks for the write up, you've saved me a > headache lol. > > lew > > On 22 Apr 2012, at 19:07, Esther wrote: > >> Hi Lew, Scott, Stacey, and Others, >> >> Yes, it's possible to reset the master password from the command line >> without a set of the install CDs or DVDs for your operating system. Scott >> is correct that if you do this from the Terminal command line while you're >> logged in, you normally have to put in your admin password. However, >> another way to accomplish this is to boot into single user mode and perform >> these actions. This is a special startup mode that allows you to do >> trouble-shooting and doesn't bring up the full system. The issue is that >> this means you also can't bring up VoiceOver, so you should do this with >> sighted assistance. What you will be doing is typing in a command that >> removes the database entry telling your Mac that the initial account setup >> was done. Then, when you reboot normally, you can enter the information >> about master password, etc. as though you were booting for the first time. >> I'll let Lew handle the explanation about how to go through that stage to >> preserve current account information in the reboot. >> >> Here's a link to a MacOS X Daily article that describes the process: >> http://osxdaily.com/2010/08/10/forgot-mac-password-how-to-reset-mac-password/ >> Although there are only three commands to be typed after you boot up in >> single user mode, by holding down the command key and the "s" key just after >> hearing the power up self test sound after pressing the power button, you >> have to type them exactly. And you either need to wait for a while to make >> sure your machine has completed the boot up, or have someone who is sighted >> tell you that you've gotten the prompt that shows you can start typing. >> Then you need to type the commands with all the special symbols like slash >> and the hyphen switches, and press return (also known as "enter" by Windows >> users) after each line, so you should read the entries character by >> character. Specifically, the command to run the filesystem check should >> have the option characters "f" and "y" after the hyphen; the mount command >> should have the option characters "u" and "w" after the hyphen, and then >> there should be a space after these switches and a slash character. The >> slash indicates the top level directory. The ".AppleSetupDone" file that you >> remove has a period at the start of the name to indicate that it is normally >> a "hidden" file that does not show up in Finder. You may not have to >> capitalize the "A", "S", and "D" in the name for the file, but I've typed >> this exactly the way the file is named on a Snow Leopard system when viewed >> in Terminal. Then, after you've typed the three commands, you type "reboot" >> (without quotation marks) and press return to reboot your machine normally. >> >> When you reboot you go through a new setup, but you take care not to create >> the same user account that would overwrite your present account. Then, in >> the third stage, you can either use the Admin privileges of the new account >> with Admin password to give your existing account Admin privileges and reset >> the password, or you can leave your account without a password and use the >> new Admin account and its password when you need to perform system >> installations. >> >> Here's the pasted in section from the article: >> >> Stage 1) Boot into Single User Mode and remove a setup file >> >> • Restart the Mac holding down the Command+S keys, this will take you >> into Single User Mode and it’s Terminal interface >> • You’ll need to check the filesystem first: >> fsck -fy >> >> • Next, you must mount the root drive as writeable so that changes will >> save: >> mount -uw / >> >> • Now, type the following command exactly, followed by the enter key: >> rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone >> >> • After removing the .AppleSetupDone file, you need to reboot, type >> ‘reboot’ and hit enter >> >> Stage 2) Create a New User Account upon System Boot >> You aren’t finished, but the hard part is now over – no more command lines, >> you’ll now be in the familiar Mac OS X GUI to finish the password reset >> process. In this step we just create a new user account as if you just got a >> new Mac: >> >> • Upon reboot, you will be presented with the traditional “Welcome >> Wizard” startup screen just like when you first get a Mac >> • Follow the welcome wizard and create a new user account – making the >> account name different from the account whose password you want to recover >> • Continue on and boot into Mac OS X with this newly created user >> account, this new user account is an Administrator and has administrative >> access >> >> Stage 3) Reset the Forgot Password via System Preferences >> You are almost done, now you just need to reset the forgotten user account >> password using the Accounts control panel: >> >> • Once you are booted into Mac OS X, click on the Apple logo and then >> navigate down to “System Preferences” >> • Click on the “Accounts” icon in System Preferences >> • Click on the Lock icon in the lower left corner of the “Accounts” >> preference window and enter the newly created user credentials, this enables >> you to change other user accounts and reset other users passwords >> • On the left side user panel, select the user account containing the >> forgotten password >> • With the user of the forgotten password account selected, click on >> the “Reset Password” button >> • Enter a new password for that user, be sure to include a meaningful >> hint so you don’t forget it again! >> • Close System Preferences and reboot the Mac >> • You can now login to the previously inaccessible user account using >> the newly reset password! All user files and settings are maintained as >> before the password was forgotten >> Optional: If you’d like, you can delete the temporary account you created to >> reset the users password. This is wise for security purposes. >> >> Here’s how this works: by deleting the .AppleSetupDone file, you are telling >> Mac OS X to re-run the setup wizard, which by default creates a new user >> account with Administrative abilities, which can then reset the forgotten >> password of any other user on the Mac. This is a great trick and excellent >> troubleshooting technique if you don’t have a Mac OS X installer CD/DVD >> laying around, which is pretty much the norm as many people tend to lose or >> misplace the installer disks that come with their computers. I have used >> this exact method multiple times to restore various Macs with forgotten/lost >> passwords. >> >> HTH. Lew can restate the third section for you in VoiceOver specific terms, >> if you need it. >> >> Cheers, >> >> Esther >> >> On Apr 22, 2012, at 6:56 AM, Lewis Alexander wrote: >> >>> not necessarily. >>> >>> I've dealt with this problem before. the trick is to be able to use command >>> line to reset the master password, like you would in linux, as OS X is a >>> UNIX shell, this is possible, >>> >>> Stacey, I'll email you very shortly this evening with some details of what >>> to do. There's some last resorts and I'm able to help on this. >>> >>> Don't worry. Just got in from a day on site doing a building job for family. >>> >>> lew >>> >>> On 22 Apr 2012, at 17:03, Scott Howell wrote: >>> >>>> Neil, >>>> >>>> If she has admin rights I still think you have to put in the old password >>>> to change it. Funny how you forget these things. :) If that is not the >>>> case then she may not have admin rights and then she is pretty much in a >>>> jam. >>>> >>>> On Apr 22, 2012, at 9:40 AM, Neil Barnfather - TalkNav wrote: >>>> >>>>> Ricardo, >>>>> >>>>> I don't think that this option came into being until Lion, this person >>>>> has Snow Leopard, which didn't offer that feature. >>>>> >>>>> I'm not actually ssure what to do if you have forgoten your password. >>>>> >>>>> but, I imagine the only place to look would be System Preferences and >>>>> Users accounts etc. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> >>>>> Neil Barnfather >>>>> >>>>> Talks List Administrator >>>>> Twitter @neilbarnfather >>>>> www.neilbarnfather.com >>>>> >>>>> TalkNav is a Nuance, Code Factory and Sendero dealer, for all your >>>>> accessible phone, PDA and GPS related enquiries visit www.talknav.com >>>>> >>>>> URL: - www.talknav.com >>>>> e-mail: - [email protected] >>>>> Phone: - +44 844 999 4199 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 22 Apr 2012, at 14:35, Stacey Robinson wrote: >>>>> >>>>> I don't remember getting that There's got to be a way to fix this. >>>>> option. >>>>> On Apr 22, 2012, at 8:27 AM, Ricardo Walker wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Hi, >>>>>> >>>>>> when you set up your machine, did you check the option for your password >>>>>> to be reset with your Apple ID? >>>>>> >>>>>> Ricardo Walker >>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> Twitter:@apple2thecore >>>>>> www.appletothecore.info >>>>>> >>>>>> On Apr 22, 2012, at 9:08 AM, Stacey Robinson <[email protected]> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi all, >>>>>>> I have run into a huge issue. >>>>>>> I'm unable to remember my password, and when I go to put something in >>>>>>> the trash such as an application it wants a password. >>>>>>> How can I reset my macbook so that nothing needs passwords? >>>>>>> I'm running snowleopard. >>>>>>> Help says I need to run the install disk, but I didn't get an install >>>>>>> disk with this machine as it was a refurbished machine. >>>>>>> Is there some way I can get the media I need and then make a disk and >>>>>>> then run it? >>>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>>> Stacey and GEB dog Chesley. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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