[Nuslos]

Backstory: My dumbass brother wanted revenge on me for throwing away one of his video games, so he got into my MacBook and changed the admin password. See, this isn't a shared machine so the administrator account was the only one on the machine, and now I can't login to my own computer.

I've read some of the topics on this forum and tried the solutions, but I can't seem to make anything work right: can't get into single user mode with command-S, can't select bootable volumes with option.. nothing seems to work, even accessing Open Firmware menu with command-option-o-f. (The machine is set up by my dad for me, so I don't know exactly how it's set up and he has the disck that he doesn't want me to use...)

If anyone has any suggestions on how I can get my damn computer back that would be appreciated.

And I don't have the CD, but I might be able to burn an .iso of the install DVD in a week or so if I can confirm that it'll work and stuff..

Thanks for any help

[ibook_steve]

Though this has absolutely nothing to do with iBooks or MacBooks, you'll need an OS CD or DVD to access the reset password utility. Or you could just beat your brother senseless until he tells you the password. (Hint: the password probably contains some form of a 4-letter word.)

Steve

[Nuslos]

Well, I didn't know; I was in a bit of a crunch to post that as I was about to leave the house.

I just thought it might help for you guys to know that the computer is a MacBook Intel Duo core 1.83 GHz. I read somewhere on the Apple website that there was a different method for recovering my password if I had an intel-based machine.

[The Godfather]

1st: It would be easiest to get your brother another copy of his videogame.
2nd: The Macbook is clearly your father's property, not yours.

[Peter]

Not related to MacBooks in anyway, moving to OS X Forum No worries.

[amazing]

Simple answer: you need the install disk to change the password back. Get it from your dad, or from a friend. It's a 2 minute operation.

Once you do that, then you need to lock the System Prefs so this doesn't happen again.

[Nuslos]

I got a 10.4.5 install disc from a friend at school- it worked as far as resetting passwords goes.

Thanks a bunch, guys. How do I close a topic?

[amazing]

hey: just don't forget to go into system prefs and lock some panels:

go to Security, and check the "require password to wake from sleep or screen saver." Then, "lock up" in the bottom left corner. It's a hassle, but you've already found out that it's necessary. While you're at it, set a Master Password that's different from your login password.

Be sure you make this a password that you're going to remember!

lock the network panel and the accounts panel. Setup a "guest" account with reduced privileges for whatever sibling might entreat you to use the laptop in the future.

[goMac]

One would ask how your brother got your password in the first place.

It also sounds like if you couldn't boot into single user mode that there was a firmware password in place. Did you have to get around that?

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by goMac

One would ask how your brother got your password in the first place.

Most likely the computer was just left lying in his room, still logged in, and his brother walked in and changed the password.

[Ganesha]

But you need the old password to set a new password, even if the accounts pane is unlocked.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Ganesha

But you need the old password to set a new password, even if the accounts pane is unlocked.

Exactly.

[Nuslos]

I was the only user on that computer, I hadn't set a password for my account.

Yeah, I couldn't boot into single user mode or anything.. but for some reason using the optical disk worked fine, I get asked for a firmware password I don't know if I try to select an alternate boot option though. o_o