Wipe and restore

[Amethyst1]

I was able to get the USB to work on the first try and Voila.. changed the admin password. Disk drive works too.

So how did you prepare the USB drive?

 

[DeltaMac]

If you were able to boot to a USB installer, then I am guessing that you were also successful in erasing the drive and reinstalling whatever system version you got with the installer. (erase and install a clean system is always my recommendation on a used Mac, particularly when you don't know what the previous owner might have done to the system software.)

 

[AL2TEACH]

I was able to get the USB to work on the first try and Voila.. changed the admin password.

Did you format using a windows computer? How about a short rundown on the process? It'll be a reference.
Glad you got that luck thing going

 

[gow75]

Agree - a dual-layer DVD will do it. Snow Leopard needs 7.2GB space.

didnt need it, I have dual layer - just used a USB

 

[gow75]

Steps:

Plugged USb 8gb san disk into USB slot - Windows 10

I did not use Transmac - I used Balen etcher and imaged the usb with the ISO image from Internet archive.

booted from MAC by pressing the command key or other .. booted to usb no problem. I was able to wipe the drive and even see the contents of the other users that were owned this mac long ago.