Admin password—can I bypass?
onegirlcreative (1090 pencils) | Fri, 2008-08-01 21:13OK, here's my dilemma.
It's kind of a hobby of mine to purchase older Macs on eBay by upgrading them (i.e. upgrade OS, install extra RAM, Airport card, etc.) and resell for a little bit of a profit. I don't do it to make money, per se, I just enjoy doing it and playing with the computers for a little bit. What I always do before I ship out to the new buyer is, I do a fresh install. When I restart and double-check everything, as soon as the welcome screen/video comes on, I turn it off. This way, when it's sent to the new owner, they can input their own information, passwords, etc. Obviously, I don't need to do this. Kind of like purchasing it direct from Apple.
That being said, I just purchased a Lime Green Clamshell iBook and received it today. Everything is exactly as described, however, the seller for some stupid reason put their info in the computer, as well as an admin password. I have NO idea why they do this, other than maybe the average buyer is an imbecile and can't figure out the welcome screen instructions, etc.
Regardless, because this laptop has OS X v10.3 on it, I immediately wanted to upgrade to v10.4. Well, this is when I encountered the problem with the admin password. As we all know, whenever you want to install any new software, applications or whatever, you NEED the admin password in order to complete this function successfully.
I guess to make a long story short (yeah, right), is there ANY way that I could get around this without knowing the admin password? I guess I could always add myself on "another account" and make myself an admin, but don't you need to know that password in order to do this?
Either way, I am PO'd about this because I don't want to be stuck using v10.3—nothing major obviously, just a hassle. I like MY own information in MY computers, not somebody else's.
I e-mailed the seller and I'm just waiting to hear back from him. He has been a very accommodating seller so I know he'll respond either way—whether he knows the password or not.
But I figured I'd get a jump start and ask the experts at CB.
Thanks guys!
Happy Friday!!!!
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"I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy as long as I can paint." ~ Frida Kahlo
Commenting on this Forum topic is closed.
OK, I think I answered my own question from above.
I went ahead and added myself on "another account" and made myself an admin user. So I am attempting to load the OS update now. It seems to be working, so I will keep you all posted—if you're interested.
suzanne maestri-walters :: graphic designer :: www.onegirlcreative.com
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"I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy as long as I can paint." ~ Frida Kahlo
www.onegirlcreative.com
Make sure every computer you get has the install disks that came with it. That way you boot up with the install disk and you can change the admin password on that computer to anything you want.
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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Dirt and Rust
So that's never an issue with me.
Everything seems to be working thus far with me adding myself as an admin user. Keep your fingers crossed....
suzanne maestri-walters :: graphic designer :: www.onegirlcreative.com
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"I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy as long as I can paint." ~ Frida Kahlo
www.onegirlcreative.com
Then you're all set! (Till you get a laptop or particular computer that requires that system disk).
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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Dirt and Rust
do you have to have it with that exact computer. I have used this OS disk for I don't know how many computers. Oops! Did I say that out loud? LOL
Anyway, everything loaded perfectly and now the laptop has MY information in it, not the other guys. Good thing, because he still hasn't responded. Uh Oh...
suzanne maestri-walters :: graphic designer :: www.onegirlcreative.com
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"I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy as long as I can paint." ~ Frida Kahlo
www.onegirlcreative.com