[hallk2342]

I have had to this before so I know the information is out there

I am running 10.3.7 and I forgot my administrator password. I don't have a original disk, and I want to upgrade my OS with out loosing any of my applications.

Does anyone know how to change the root password by using the single user mode? I think that is what they call it.

Thank you
Kurt

[chabig]

It can't be done without your original install disc. You'll have to find one. My recommendation--upgrade now to Tiger.

Chris

[OreoCookie]

This is the wrong forum, moving … 

I would second the advice to get install disks.

[hallk2342]

Do I need any passwords to upgrade Operating systems?

[steve626]

Originally Posted by hallk2342

Do I need any passwords to upgrade Operating systems?

Yes, you need to supply an administrator password to update any part of the operating system. (This is one reason why Macs are harder to "invade" than PCs.) As someone else indicated, you need to get a set of install disks ...

At the AppleRescue web site

AppleRescue | Mac Operating Systems & Technical Manuals

you can purchase new Tiger install disks (CDs) for $79, new Panther install disks (CDs) for $59, and new Jaguar install disks (CDs) for $39.

[Angus_D]

Firstly, yes, you can reset the administrator password from single user mode. But it's a hassle, especially given the whole shadow passwords thing in Panther and later. It would probably go something like:

mount -uw /
nicl -raw /var/db/netinfo/local.nidb delete /users/me authentication_authority
nicl -raw /var/db/netinfo/local.nidb create /users/me passwd `perl -e 'print crypt("newpass",rand())'`

Untested, will probably hose you, etc.

Also, you don't need an admin password for installing major system upgrades, since you can just boot off the CD directly.

But yeah, you need to buy media.

[kamina]

Atlest the "Mass Tiger" installation dvd allows you to reset any password once you boot with it. Dunno if a normal install media allows you to do that?

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by steve626

Yes, you need to supply an administrator password to update any part of the operating system.

You don't need a password to upgrade with a CD, last I checked.

[Angus_D]

Originally Posted by kamina

Atlest the "Mass Tiger" installation dvd allows you to reset any password once you boot with it. Dunno if a normal install media allows you to do that?

Yes, it does. Hence people recommending him to buy installation media. I don't know what "Mass Tiger" is, though.

[kamina]

I don't know what the correct term would be in English. At work we use an installation mediia which is intended for deployment on alot of computers (using the same disk).

[Angus_D]

Originally Posted by kamina

I don't know what the correct term would be in English. At work we use an installation mediia which is intended for deployment on alot of computers (using the same disk).

You can use a normal retail install CD/DVD on multiple machines, but if you're doing mass deployment I wouldn't use a normal CD/DVD but rather an image of some kind. So I still don't really understand what you're talking about.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by kamina

I don't know what the correct term would be in English. At work we use an installation mediia which is intended for deployment on alot of computers (using the same disk).

That would be basically a common image, or at least a common installation disc. In the PC world you deploy a bunch of similar computers by simply writing the appropriate image on the hard drive, not installing Windows and the various apps individually. Much faster-you can tailor the image for your hardware and your software requirements, and set it up ONCE for all the computers you need.

[voicebox]

Originally Posted by hallk2342

I have had to this before so I know the information is out there

I am running 10.3.7 and I forgot my administrator password. I don't have a original disk, and I want to upgrade my OS with out loosing any of my applications.

Does anyone know how to change the root password by using the single user mode? I think that is what they call it.

Thank you
Kurt

Hi there Kurt,
I wouldn't bother spending money buying a set of disks for Panther when you can spend the money buying Tiger.
Surely in your case the easiest solution would be to back up all your important stuff to a firewire external hard drive, or clone your present system across using Carbon Copy Cloner. Then wipe your main hard drive and install Tiger 10.4.7; that way you start again with a set of new passwords - none of which you will forget!
Afterwards just 'drag and drop' any important files you need from the external HD to your main HD.

Good luck
voicebox