Forgot Mac Mini root pwd and lost boot disc

[m4change]

I have an older Mac Mini (running a 1.25 GHZ PowerPC G4) from 2005. I had not used it for some time, but now want to use it as am HTPC. But I can't upgrade the software because I have (1) forgotten the root password and (2) lost the old boot disk. I don't need any of the old data, but would like to start over. It's running 3.9 and I want to upgrade it, but can't because I don't know the password.

I do have an old MacMini 10.4 disk (from a computer at work), but it won't boot with this computer.

What can I do to get this running again?

 

[fluffyx]

1) Do you live near an Apple Store? With a Genius Bar appointment, they can reset your password free of charge.

2) Did you have Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard on your Mac mini? If so, it's a lot easier to reset the password here than in previous versions of Mac OS X.

 

[tomacintosh]

By root password do you mean the one that will prevent you booting off a DVD?

If so, I've had success with a little trick where you take some RAM out the system (or change it for another sized DIMM if you only have one slot) and it removes the password protection. Works with G5 PowerMacs anyway.

 

[m4change]

My plan: Install 10.5.

1) Do you live near an Apple Store? With a Genius Bar appointment, they can reset your password free of charge.

Nice to know. Wished I lived near one.

2) Did you have Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard on your Mac mini? If so, it's a lot easier to reset the password here than in previous versions of Mac OS X.

This is actually what I'm doing. I've ordered 10.5 (I'm currently running 10.39), and plan to install that (albeit losing my current data in the process).

Thanks!