[SheerKhan]

so i've been dealing with this issue for a while now and for the life of me i can't crack it. i'm working with a g4 powerbook.

i've gone in and started over with the initial set up assistant. added all of my info. the computer now says it's my computer.

but the problem is, i can't really DO anything. the admin still exists. i've been trying to reinstall jag but when i try that, i can't find the reset admin password. the only option i have is to click the restart button. i do that and hold c down to boot from the disk. as it's starting up, i get an error message that says "you need to restart your computer. press the restart button and hold it for several seconds" so if i do that, the computer keeps giving me that message unless i eject the disk. so not only can i not reset the password, i can't reinstall.

k, then i tried booting in os9.2.2. i installed norton utilites and check the disk. on the first round, it found a ton of "major errors" and corrected most of them. the second go round, it found more "major errors" and corrected all fo them.
i was then able to go in and erase the admin folder. i tried the osX fix again, and kept getting the same problem as before.
back to 9.2.2 and norton. i then went to wipe disk and chose the macintosh hd, but when i did that, the wipe disk button becomes shadowed, i can't click it.

also, a side question: what is the HFS +Private Data folder? at this point, i just want to use norton to erase everything that says hidden or private!!!! *screams* and no, i haven't erased anything yet.

could i please get some help? i'm about to rip all of my hair out and throw this thing up against the wall. thanks all

[romeosc]

You can use firewire mode to access the Install CD and change the password.

This security flaw allows anyone with another computer to access your computer.

That is why you can't boot from a cd unless you can select the cd from startup disk under preferences.

[tRr]

I'm afraid you are mistaken romeosc. You can use the Jaguar disc to boot up any Mac (well you can't if OpenFirmware Password is enabled, but this doesn't appear to be the case) by having the disc inserted at start-up and holding down the C key.

What appears to be happening is you are starting from the CD and then it has a Kernel Panic (the computer crashes). The only thing I can think of is a dirty or heavily scratched installation CD. Is this the case?

I found this on Apples site which might help: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=88152.

Might be time to upgrade to Panther and get a fresh set of discs

Good luck!

[SheerKhan]

actually, the installer cds are spotless. they might as well be brand new.

the exact message i'm getting is this:
You need to restart your computer. Hold down the power buttone for several second or push restart.

it says that in 3-5 diff. languages.

i know it's not the disk b/c i can get it to function on my g3 powerbook.

i swear i've tried everything. i've reset the root password, after that i changed the admin password, after that i created a new admin. the weird thing is, i can completely edit both of the accounts i created (both are admin accounts,) and i can change the password to the original admin, but i can't delete the original admin.

i've also reset the pmu, opened firmware, and reset everything. theroetically, from that point i should have been able to boot via the jag disk and reinstalled. no such luck. i got the "you need to restart your computer" message again.

then last thing i can think to do is to remove on of the ram sticks. i've heard that doing this bypasses (or clears, i don't remember which) the passwords. i'm going to try that tomorrow morning and if that doesn't work....i'm going to hide in a deep dark hole and never come out. *sigh*

[Cipher13]

Originally posted by SheerKhan:
actually, the installer cds are spotless. they might as well be brand new.

the exact message i'm getting is this:
You need to restart your computer. Hold down the power buttone for several second or push restart.

it says that in 3-5 diff. languages.

i know it's not the disk b/c i can get it to function on my g3 powerbook.

i swear i've tried everything. i've reset the root password, after that i changed the admin password, after that i created a new admin. the weird thing is, i can completely edit both of the accounts i created (both are admin accounts,) and i can change the password to the original admin, but i can't delete the original admin.

i've also reset the pmu, opened firmware, and reset everything. theroetically, from that point i should have been able to boot via the jag disk and reinstalled. no such luck. i got the "you need to restart your computer" message again.

then last thing i can think to do is to remove on of the ram sticks. i've heard that doing this bypasses (or clears, i don't remember which) the passwords. i'm going to try that tomorrow morning and if that doesn't work....i'm going to hide in a deep dark hole and never come out. *sigh*

That's a kernel panic... have you done anything to your RAM?

[Jim_MDP]

Never KP'd so I'll mention something else…

What you've done approximates the end result of a help request I saw here a few weeks back. That was, to change the admins' user/login name (shorter for the FUS menu).

The response ran to… HELL NO, be careful, you have to go through this ungodly procedure (like 15 steps, really) and here's the link to the Apple KB page.

I, of course, don't know which thread this was in.