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system lock pin and flashing folder with question mark

P

parisdairy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 26, 2013
3
0
Hello Everyone,
I recently bought a MBP early 2011 with i5 from a local seller. two days later, there is system lock pin screen on the mac when i turn it on. I tried to remove the ram and reset the ram memory , didn't help. I also tried to remove the hard drive and use mac drive software on my window laptop to open the file. It asked me to format the drive and i tried to repair the disc in macdrive but nothing shown. I put the hdd back in the MBP, now when i turn it on there is a flashing folder with question mark. I pressed the option key before start up screen and it leads me to the screen with big lock
4368739975_5be85cb46f.jpg
 
justperry

justperry

macrumors G5
Aug 10, 2007
12,557
9,750
I'm a rolling stone.
parisdairy said:
Hello Everyone,
I recently bought a MBP early 2011 with i5 from a local seller. two days later, there is system lock pin screen on the mac when i turn it on. I tried to remove the ram and reset the ram memory , didn't help. I also tried to remove the hard drive and use mac drive software on my window laptop to open the file. It asked me to format the drive and i tried to repair the disc in macdrive but nothing shown. I put the hdd back in the MBP, now when i turn it on there is a flashing folder with question mark. I pressed the option key before start up screen and it leads me to the screen with big lock
Image
Click to expand...

You probably bought a stolen laptop from that seller.
Someone activated iCloud's Remote Wipe.

iCloud: Erase your device remotely
 
S

shootist

macrumors regular
Dec 8, 2011
108
0
Take the system back to where you bought it. It is either a stolen system, and locked + wiped by the original owner or it has a firmware password set on it.

Or you could use it as a thin shiny door stop.


parisdairy said:
could I format the hdd then install new os? or is there a way to solve it?
Click to expand...
 
justperry

justperry

macrumors G5
Aug 10, 2007
12,557
9,750
I'm a rolling stone.
parisdairy said:
could I format the hdd then install new os? or is there a way to solve it?
Click to expand...

No, that won't work, actually, if you reformat you make it even worse.

As the above poster says, bring it back if you can, if the seller does not accept this threaten to go to the police, it is almost sure to be a stolen one.
 
P

parisdairy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 26, 2013
3
0
there's no way i can find the seller. Can i just format the hard drive then flash the firmware?
 
S

shootist

macrumors regular
Dec 8, 2011
108
0
parisdairy said:
there's no way i can find the seller. Can i just format the hard drive then flash the firmware?
Click to expand...

If you can find the seller, which sounds very strange as you said you bought it from a local seller, then you have 3 options.

1) Take it to an Apple store and have them replace the logic board and drive

2) Use it as an expensive paper weight or door stop.

3) Somehow return it to the person it was stolen from. Like go to the police and turn it in then kiss your money goodbye.
 
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