Home Forums Mac Software Mac Operating Systems Installing Leopard and Password Problems PLS HELP

I am sooo bummed. I finally decided to do all the back up and such to update the system. It was one of those if it ain't broken don't fix it type situations. I just installed Leopard to my old 12" Mac G4 laptop. Everything was going fine until the first screen dialog box asked for my password. I tried the usual suspects, and I couldn't get the computer to accept it or anything else. Then I tried resetting the password with the install CD. The new password is being rejected with a screen shake.I am in a loop and cannot get any further. The dialogue box gives you log in, restart and shut down. Is there a work around? How do I get out of this mess? I am in deep poop as I need to access my computer. What can I do... I'm logging on to someone else's computer until I can get back into mine. I am desperate. Any advise will be most appreciated.

(I also tried to use the Disc Utility to verify or repair, but it gets stuck about 20% across the progress bar and refuses to repair the disc as it is unable to 'unmount'.)

You can reset the password by

1. Reboot your computer from the Leopard install DVD by placing it in the optical drive and then holding down the C key during the restart.
2. When prompted enter your language preference
3. On the next screen on the menu bar select Utilities > Reset Password
4. Follow the prompts to reset your password.
5. Quit the installer and reboot back to your hard drive

You cannot repair the volume you are booted from. To effect Disk Repairs follow the preceding instructions to boot from the install DVD, but go to Utilities > Disk Utility instead of Reset Password and run Disk Repair from there.

Debra got several excellent suggestions on Cnet forums about reset; they go beyond this one. I am afraid, her main account does not work as intended and creating a new one in single-user mode may be needed. There is some problem with perm repair and this does not sound good. I suggested she come here for a more thorough guidance. Let us see if the password is the only problem.

There's no way to tell from your post... Does this Apple doc apply to your situation?

If you really need to access your Mac you ought to be able to do so in FireWire target disk mode. (Be sure your Mac's HD has been ejected from the desktop of the other Mac before you remove the cable.)

> You can reset the password by...

Excellent source! Thanks, Artie. I guess, the other poster on Cnet used this KB article with some modifications. She was able to get the password working but there may be more to it because DU could not repair perms.
The thread on Cnet can be found here:
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6126_102-0.html?threadID=361062&tag=forums06;forum-threads