I got an old imac in a free room and I have no way of finding out the user password. Since it is user password protected how can I hack it so that I can reinstall the operating system? It's the imac OS10 OS. I tried to install an older version of the OS, 8.0 I think because I have a disc, but it won't let me do it if I'm not logged in as an admin. It does boot up on the CD but you have to reformat the drive to install it and I can't do that when I have no access. I hate to just throw this computer out and anyone else is going to have the same problem if I stick it back in the free room. Can anyone offer a suggestion as to how I can hack the password?
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How can I hack an old imac?
- Thread starter MelanieS
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I did that but it won't let me install the new OS unless I reformat the drive first. It wants a clean install and won't let me do anything else.
You need to find OS X install disk, and change password, or reformat.
Are you trying to get user data that is not yours? Just reformat.
Are you trying to get user data that is not yours? Just reformat.
Unless I'm misunderstanding something, it should let you reformat the drive from Disk Utility on the booted CD. Are you wanting to get data off the ol' girl?
oh, Im sorry, I though you just need a clean installation.
I have no idea about how to do it. especially its not even connected to internet.
I have an OS disc but I can't install it because I don't have access to any user passwords and I can't reformat unless I have access.
I do want to erase the complete drive and install a new OS so it's clean but you can't install from the booted CD unless you are logged in as an admin, then reboot the disc on a formatted drive.
????thats weird. I think you should be able to format the whole disk w/o any password.
Are you saying you have an Open Firmware password enabled that will not allow you to boot from the CD?
Not that getting around this is hard if there is.
If OS X is already installed then it already has the firmware updates. I just hope this isn't something like a "I'm using a gray disc." situation.
I'm saying that I have NO password and can't access the OS at all, never mind trying to access it to change anything. It's a used computer and it's password protected. Locked forever unless I can get in.
The CD boots but it won't let you install a new operating system because it wants to install only on a clean system which you cannot do unless you have access to the OS that's already on the computer.
I haven't played with OS 8.6 in quite sometime and I do remember a slight headache when trying to do a clean installation.
I have a faint recollection that you do have to erase the drive and then tell the installer to move forward.
Anything against trying to run OS X on this old Mac? Even the oldest iMac would need Mac OS 8.1.
I have a faint recollection that you do have to erase the drive and then tell the installer to move forward.
Anything against trying to run OS X on this old Mac? Even the oldest iMac would need Mac OS 8.1.
I'm not sure you're completely understanding me. The old owner could have placed an open firmware password on the machine to prevent it form being able to boot from other devices, such as CDs. Here is more information on open firmware passwords. For information on changing an account password, read this.
Finally someone is getting the picture lol First of all, I'm a Windows user who knows zip about macs but I want to use this mac if I can. I have an old imac OS 8.0 disc and the Os that's already on the computer is OS 10.0. I know this because I have done some research on this computer of this year. It's the one from 98, the blue one that looks like a clear spaceship. Now about OS X I know nothing.
Well finding the serial number and specifications would help a lot more as well.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86320
OS X is a possibility on this old Mac but it's not really worth it. If your disc is a Mac OS 8.0 then you might be able to erase the drive but the operating system doesn't meet the minimum to run even on the original Bondi Blue of love.
It DOES boot up from the CD but it won't let you install the OS because it wants you to do it on a clean system. It lets you think that you are going to be able to do it until you get to a certain point and then it tells you that it can't install the OS because it has to be done on a clean system.
It's been ages since I used anything pre-OSX, but is there an item called Disk Utility in one of the installer menus? If you can find this item then you should be able to reformat the drive and then reinstall the OS.
Ok well I will skip the Os 8.0 disc then but I still have the problem of not being able to get into the computer because it's password protected. Is there another way I can get in or does a newer OS version work as far as installing on a computer that isn't already clean? It is the Bondi blue one.
Nope the installation disc is VERY simple and there aren't many options. It's something that looks like it was written for kindergardeners lol
As much as I do love older Apple hardware it might be time to let this Mac go. Even for less then $100 you can get a much better iMac G3.
http://www.lowendmac.com/deals/best-imac-g3-prices.html
As much as I do love older Apple hardware it might be time to let this Mac go. Even for less then $100 you can get a much better iMac G3.
http://www.lowendmac.com/deals/best-imac-g3-prices.html
Well I have a brand new Windows PC! lol but I wanted to get this one going for an older lady who wanted it and she doesn't have any money. She's a pensioner and pretty broke. She can't afford any price or she won't be eating and I am broke now too so I can't help her with this. It's very cool looking too and she likes it lol
I guess I will give up on it and throw it back in the free room. Too bad, it's so cute. Thanks for your help everyone. It was fun but frustrating lol
First, read this. To reformat the drive, you can use either the Drive Setup utility or the Disk First Aid. Drive Setup should definitely allow for formatting, should Disk First Aid fail. There should be nothing to do with "Permission problems," as Mac OS 8 would be completely oblivious to Mac OS X permissions. If you can boot from CD, you're in the free and clear.
Double click the CD icon, then open Utilities folder, and then Drive Setup. You should see your hard drive in the list; select it, and then click "Initialize..." You can take the default options.
To use Disk First Aid, CD -> Utilities -> Disk First Aid and select your hard drive, and then under the "Options" menu, select "Erase Disk..." give it a name and then click "Erase"
What's odd, though, is that Mac OS 8.0 should be prompting you immediately to initialize the drive, as it should be HFS+. HFS+ was introduced in 8.1 and is the default filesystem for Mac OS X, but is not readable by OS 8.0
Double click the CD icon, then open Utilities folder, and then Drive Setup. You should see your hard drive in the list; select it, and then click "Initialize..." You can take the default options.
To use Disk First Aid, CD -> Utilities -> Disk First Aid and select your hard drive, and then under the "Options" menu, select "Erase Disk..." give it a name and then click "Erase"
What's odd, though, is that Mac OS 8.0 should be prompting you immediately to initialize the drive, as it should be HFS+. HFS+ was introduced in 8.1 and is the default filesystem for Mac OS X, but is not readable by OS 8.0
Wait,you said it looked very simple. Can you see the Desktop pattern and disks on the desktop? Maybe it has At Ease installed. Just a thought.
Edit: I don't think any iMacs came with At ease. Once the Install CD shows up on the desktop open it. Look in the "Utilities" folder for "Drive setup" see if it sees the Hard Drive. Also in the installer make sure you check the box marked "Perform Clean installation" This will format the drive completely.
Edit: I don't think any iMacs came with At ease. Once the Install CD shows up on the desktop open it. Look in the "Utilities" folder for "Drive setup" see if it sees the Hard Drive. Also in the installer make sure you check the box marked "Perform Clean installation" This will format the drive completely.
When you boot off the CD, isn't there a Utilities menu or something in the menu bar that will let you run some disk utility? I think I remember having to click on a "Initialize" button to format the disk.