How on earth did I manage to give myself a password without meaning to?

[gateley]

I had no password. I was fooling around, next thing I know it's asking for a password. I thought, well maybe it's my mobile me password -- nope. I'm afraid to turn off my computer because I'm not sure if it will demand a password to let me on again!

Any guidance? Thanks! :hi:

[struggle4progress]

1. If you ever forgot you Mac OS X login password, here is what to do

http://www.appledoes.com/if-you-ever-forgot-you-mac-os-x-login-password-here-is-what-to-do.html

I'd double-check that FileVault is turned OFF

... System Preferences->Accounts->unlock the lock->Login Options->Automatic login ...
http://discussions.info.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2435309

[gateley]

2. Thanks! I'll let you know if I'm successful. My prob is I didn't intentionally

enter a password, so I don't really know what it might be! :banghead

[alfredo]

3. What were you doing when you got the password prompt?

[gateley]

4. I realized I was unable to change account into -- prompt comes up when

I try to "unlock" it to allow changes. Tells me my name or password is incorrect.

This entire nightmare began because I tried to remove the original owner's name from the computer. It wasn't a big deal, it didn't get in my way, I was just tired of seeing his name.

Long story short, my best friend got consumed by the 'task' and ended up erasing my hard drive! (He'd done something in the "root" ????). Took it to the Genius Bar, they couldn't recover it. I bought a retrieval program and it was successful. (Of course, the Genius Bar guy told us how to change the name really simply.)

I honestly don't know what/how I did what I did this time. I've changed the "ADMIN" to my name, and I had to access 'accounts' to do that, so Lord knows what I did after.

Going to Genius Bar tomorrow, but I've been told they won't help w/passwords in case the computer in question is stolen, but I guess I'll find out.

[alfredo]

5. If you have the install disc, you can boot from it and

change your password there.

[realisticphish]

6. for future machines

If you don't want to constantly have a login password, fine; but set an admin password anyway, even if its just "password."

Hopefully the Apple store will help you; if they won't, try a private repair shop that works on Apples. They might be more willing to dig deeper