I need help with my imac

[new2mac22]

i just bought a used imac running mac os x 10.6.1 from a broker and when i got home i tried resetting the password and the broker does not know the existing password, i need to find a way to reset it without restoring my mac because i have final cut express, vmware fusion, ect. and I do not want to lose those programs. when i got the mac it did not come with the restore disk or any of the additional hardware disks. im not sure if it matters but the log in is imac, im not sure if thats a master login that all macs start with or if the previous owner just happened to pick that as there log in, hopefully someone can help me out, any hints or comon passwords used maybe or a way to reset it?

thanks,
nick

 

[spinnerlys]

Hello.

To be honest, it sounds a little weird and dubious, that you buy an iMac from someone who hasn't even got the Restore DVDs or even the password to his/her own account.

You either need the restore DVDs or any other retail/upgrade DVD that Apple currently offers to reset the password.

As this might not be your last post here, a little advice on the thread title: describe the problem, as that will you get the better audience, as many "i need help" thread titles just go by without further attention to the right people who could know an answer.

 

[adder7712]

You could buy a copy of Snow Leopard since it's just $29.

Insert the disc and reboot the computer, while the computer is booting up. Hold the C key and follow on-screen instructions.

You can use this guide, it's under the "Resetting the original administrator account password" section.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274

 

[Willis]

Does sound a little odd that you got the iMac without the discs but as suggested, just buy a Snow Leopard disc and follow the instructions to reset the password. However, you won't be able to change the admin name for the account (without some major back end tinkering)

 

[MacHamster68]

its a common practice to sell without the disc` , they put lots od programs on most are even cracked ones , they keep the discs so they can install snow leopard on more iMacs when they buy them in bulk
there are sometimes companys who sell iMac`s when they get new ones 200 of them with wiped hdd`s ,so someone with the disc can istall snow leo on all of them and resell them for a higher price with snow leo the old iMac brings about 20-30%more
ebay is full of those preinstalled iMacs without discs

 

[new2mac22]

You could buy a copy of Snow Leopard since it's just $29.

Insert the disc and reboot the computer, while the computer is booting up. Hold the C key and follow on-screen instructions.

You can use this guide, it's under the "Resetting the original administrator account password" section.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274

thanks for the advice, if i but a new snow leopard cd then when i go to install it will i lose all of my software that is already installed on the computer? i don't want it to restore my entire hard drive and loose my add on software since i can not re install them because i do not have the software

 

[-Ryan-]

thanks for the advice, if i but a new snow leopard cd then when i go to install it will i lose all of my software that is already installed on the computer? i don't want it to restore my entire hard drive and loose my add on software since i can not re install them because i do not have the software

You're not installing Snow Leopard, you're just using the disk to reset the password.

 

[ahm]

Or you can do this:

http://lifehacker.com/278898/reset-your-lost-os-x-password