reinstall problems

[mjms4]

i'm trying to reinstall mac osx on an ibook. when i press the restart button for install the computer asks for admin. name and password. i've tried simply restarting holding the "C" key and making a new account, but niether works. there seems to be a master password that i unfortunatly did not inherit with the computer, and is keeping me from reinstalling. are there any other possibilities?

thank you for your time,
m.

 

[Unorthodox]

i'm trying to reinstall mac osx on an ibook. when i press the restart button for install the computer asks for admin. name and password. i've tried simply restarting holding the "C" key and making a new account, but niether works. there seems to be a master password that i unfortunatly did not inherit with the computer, and is keeping me from reinstalling. are there any other possibilities?

thank you for your time,
m.

So you forgot your admin password? If so while the install CD is in the drive, restart the computer while holding down the "C" key.
When the install screen pops up, there should be an option to reset your password in the menu bar.
Im not sure if this will help. I couldn't fully understand your post.
Maybe if you could explain in more detail?

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

i've tried simply restarting holding the "C" key and making a new account, but niether works.

What do you mean by "making a new account"? Does it start from the install disk or not? If it starts from the CD/DVD won't it allow you to reset passwords and/or reinstall OS X?

Just have to ask: Is it the original disks for the iBook or a regular retail version of Tiger you're using? Because if you use disks that came with another Mac model it won't (necessarily) work with the iBook...

 

[mjms4]

ibook&security

when i try to restart holding the "c" key, nothing happens at all, the computer just starts up normally; when i try to manually install osx a popup window appears which states: "click the button below to restart your computer and begin installation process" when i click it, i'm prompt to enter administrator's name and password.

i aquired this computer second hand and i do not have this information. i've tried to set new user accounts via the keychain, but i cannot seem to create a administrator's account without the original master password.

in reply to the second comment:
the osx cd i'm using is from a retail store: ibook Mac OS X version 10.2

thank you both for replying.

 

[Unorthodox]

when i try to restart holding the "c" key, nothing happens at all, the computer just starts up normally; when i try to manually install osx a popup window appears which states: "click the button below to restart your computer and begin installation process" when i click it, i'm prompt to enter administrator's name and password.

So it asks you for the password before you shutdown? does the prompt look like the attached image?

I aquired this computer second hand and i do not have this information. i've tried to set new user accounts via the keychain, but i cannot seem to create a administrator's account without the original master password.

You don't set up accounts through keychain.
You would do that through the "Accounts" pane in "System Preferences".

in reply to the second comment:
the osx cd i'm using is from a retail store: ibook Mac OS X version 10.2
thank you both for replying.

If you bought it from a retail store than it's not model specific.