Following on my difficulties earlier today with pop-ups, documented in this thread, I got a call from PiperDad, asking for a bit of help with his Mac. He wanted to update his programs, using the automatic “Software Update” function in System Preferences. The problem is that before it will start down-loading the updates, you need to enter a password. PiperDad has no idea what his password is, and looks hopefully to me.
The “help” function was no help, since it essentially said to contact the administrator. That would be me, since PiperDad relies on me with his computer problems. Of course, for one techno-peasant to rely on another techno-peasant for computer advice isn’t the most fruitful scenario…
So, does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can either find out what PiperDad’s password was, or (more likely) re-set it to default?
(Oh, and before anyone makes tactful hints that PiperDad might be starting to lose it, let me make it perfectly clear that this problem with a password and the other dark arts of computers is not a new issue. Mrs Piper and I aren’t even sure if he appreciates the distinction between the Word app and a Word doc. :dubious: But he’s got no problems using it to check his stocks and practise his singing with midi files.)
If worse comes to worse, it can be reset by booting from the System install disk.
Also, if you enter the wrong password enough times, it will give you a hint (if you had the foresight to provide one when you set up the machine).
Otherwise, cracking it is essentially impossible for a novice.
Note that the password is case-sensitive, so if he is trying one that he thinks is correct and it doesn’t work, try it with all caps of initial caps.
If I re-boot from the System disk, will it make the change to the OS on the computer, so that the new password is saved?
You missed the bit about techno-peasants… 
Yes.
You need to boot from the System Install disk, and then choose “Reset Password” from the Utilities menu.
This will allow you to set a new password for his account.
One thing to be aware of - doing this will NOT change the “keychain” password, which means that any saved web passwords and logins (like for SDMB) will have to be re-entered.
Thanks. I’ll give it a try next time I’m over at his condo.
Is your Dad’s account an administrator? You may be lucky and find that it was setup as such so you can go into System Prefs - Accounts and reset a password. This will only work if the Accounts applet wasn’t locked (should have an open padlock symbol). Sorry this is slightly vague but my Mac is upstairs at the moment. Let me know if you want me to elucidate.
Your other option is to connect the machine to the internet and I can break into it for you then reset the password. I realise this is probably going to go down like a lead balloon, what with us being random strangers on the internet and all, but I thought I’d offer.
tim
This won’t work, because even if the Accounts pane is unlocked, you still need to enter the original password before you can change it.