i have an apple using the mac os x operating system. I bought it yesterday from a pawn shop. it worked fine yesterday at the pawn shop when it was on. Today i turned it on and a screen pops up MAC OS X and an icon asking for a password. I dont have the reboot disk and neither does the pawn shop. I ned to know what to do to get into my computer. Please help

Hello,

I would recommend to anyone getting a used computer (and personally, I do this for *any* computer that becomes mine... new or used) and rebuild it from scratch. Only by doing this, do you know what programs are on that machine, and you alone are responsible for configuring security on it.

I bought a used laptop from a pawn shop several years ago too. Took it home, and the first thing I did was repartition and reformat the hard disk.

You never know what hidden goodies / problems are lurking around. There might even be logical disk drive damage...

Christian

Since you bought the machine used, you may want to consider just going out and purchasing an OS X installer CD. Basically, I'd just wipe the machine out, and just put a new, fresh system install on it so you don't "inherit" the previous owner's issues that they may have had.

Also, it's not really advisable to post details about subverting system passwords on a board like this. Even though you motives for doing it may be pure, the techniques for doing it can also be used to gain unauthorized access to other machines.

Hello Laurel,

Yes, by re-formatting, the computer is "brand-new" with whatever software you choose to install on it. What you will want to do is get ahold of the system disks, and startup the computer with them. Using a utility called the "Disk Utility" (found in the blue apple menu when loading from OS X systems disks), format the hard drive before performing the installation.

Once that is done, you will be prompted to enter in new password information, and from there, may install new software.

Christian