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General discussion

how to type 2 comand lines ?

by hpc Jul 14, 2009 11:10AM PDT

Hi everyone
I tried to recover root password on a mac 10.4
I read somewhere that i must
" 1.Click Restart at the login window
2.While the computer is restarting, hold down "Command-S" until you see text scrolling through the window. This boots the computer into single user mode.
3.At the Localhost% prompt type:

/sbin/mount -uw /
/sbin/SystemStarter
You will then see various services starting up.... etc "
Please tell me how to type like that
After typing " /sbin/mount -uw /" what must I do so that I can go to other line to type " /sbin/SystemStarter "
In Dos when I type a command line ( Dir C:\dos\*.* etc ) I must press Enter key ( return in mac ) In this case what must i do?
Thank you for your precious time and advice
Hpc

Discussion is locked

13 Posts
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How about the Return key?
by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Jul 14, 2009 11:17AM PDT

did you try that and then type the other line?

P

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tried Command-S
by hpc Jul 14, 2009 11:52AM PDT

Dear Sir,
When I hold down "Command -S" to boot the mac
I got the prompt localhost:/root# not only localhost%
Is it OK ?
Thank you
hpc

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About return key
by hpc Jul 14, 2009 12:14PM PDT

When I start in single user mode I get as following :
"Singleuser boot --fsck not done "
"Boot device is mounted read only "
Then I typed "/sbin/mount -uw/ " pressed return key No respond
I typed "/sbin/SystemStarter " pressed return key No respond
What is the problem
Thank you
hpc

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The last error
by hpc Jul 14, 2009 12:23PM PDT

The last error message
"Computer memberd[111]: Couldn't find root user.Sleeping and trying again "
What should i do
Thank you for your precious time and advice
hpc

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Question:
by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Jul 14, 2009 9:48PM PDT

Does this machine boot normally?

If so, boot from the OS X installation disk and reset the passwords as necessary.

No need to mess with the command lines

P

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Boot normally
by hpc Jul 14, 2009 9:59PM PDT

Dear sir
Since my friend just bought it from a garage sale There is no personal data on it,only the former user name .
I deleted the AppleSetupDone Now it boots and try to register my friend but at the last step ,it failed.I think to remove all the users in it
Thank you ,
hpc

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(NT) Does you friend have a copy of the OS?
by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Jul 15, 2009 4:59AM PDT
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Root User
by dianne Jul 15, 2009 6:26AM PDT

hpc,

You wrote:
The last error message
"Computer memberd[111]: Couldn't find root user. Sleeping and trying again "

The root user in Mac OS X is disabled by default. It is possible that the previous owner never set up a root user. See: Enabling and using the "root" user in Mac OS X.

You and your friend really need the original system install discs which shipped with the computer. They are needed to run the Apple Hardware test and reinstall any application which shipped with the computer such as iPhoto, iDVD, iMovie, iWeb, and GarageBand.

See: Mac OS X: Changing or resetting an account password.

dianne.

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new OS discs
by boni777 Jul 15, 2009 6:45AM PDT

I found out you can get them free from Apple. It only takes a few days.

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Re: new OS discs
by dianne Jul 15, 2009 9:56AM PDT

boni777,

You wrote: ?I found out you can get them free from Apple.?
I am surprised that replacement disks for an operating system are free.

You wrote: ?It only takes a few days.?
Apple is an international company. Shipping and arrival times may vary.

As far as I know, a user needs to contact -- Apple for Support and Service -- to see if replacement discs are available.

I think the user needs to be aware that:
? there may be a fee for this service.
? specific information about the Macintosh will need to be provided -- perhaps model and / or serial number.
? See: How to find the serial number of your Apple Hardware product.

dianne.

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He is not the first buyer
by hpc Jul 15, 2009 10:53AM PDT

Dear Sir or madame,
My friend bought this mac(g4 700Mhz no optical drive) in a garage sale.
Can he get a Tiger install disk ?
Thank you for your precious time and advice
hpc

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You, yourself, personally, buy the Tiger disk from,
by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Jul 15, 2009 9:59PM PDT

eBay, Amazon, Apple or anywhere you can find Tiger.

Then you need to buy an optical drive for it.

Using Tiger installation disk, you reset the passwords.

You charge your friend for the cost of fixing his computer.

P

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System Install Discs
by dianne Jul 15, 2009 10:33PM PDT

hpc,

No, you cannot get Mac OS X 10.4.x replacement discs from Apple for that machine. The replacement is the original operating system which shipped with the computer when it was purchased. The seller needed to include those discs with the computer at the garage sale.

The install disc for Tiger is a DVD. It must be a retail / universal installer, not a gray label, machine-specific disc.

dianne.

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