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Furyy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 22, 2018
7
0
So i have a mid-2012 macbook pro running on macOS 10.13 and it was working just fine yesterday. The problem is when i start it i get stuck on the firmware password screen.
The issue here is that i know the password but i cant type it in ! The keyboard just wont type anything but i know it works with caps key.
I tried the commands for zapping the nvram, tried booting with options key, smc reset, changing the ram slots but nothing seems to work !
I need to sell it these two days so im pulling my hair here.
Please help as soon as possible !
 
I guess you are trying to remove the firmware (EFI) password (?)
A great idea, when you want to sell it!

Can you enter the password from an external keyboard? A USB wired keyboard is your best bet.
You do know how to turn off the firmware password when you finally get it to boot - correct?
 
I guess you are trying to remove the firmware (EFI) password (?)
A great idea, when you want to sell it!

Can you enter the password from an external keyboard? A USB wired keyboard is your best bet.
You do know how to turn off the firmware password when you finally get it to boot - correct?
I have already tried using a usb keyboard but it’s the same problem !
Yes, i do know how.
 
Not much left for you to try...
Take to an Apple store. They will clear that EFI password. You would need to show proof of ownership.
 
Not much left for you to try...
Take to an Apple store. They will clear that EFI password. You would need to show proof of ownership.
The problem is that we dont have an Apple store here in Tunisia. Do you think any IT engineer could erase it from the hardware ?
 
You can't boot to another volume, such as a macOS installer, if you can't enter the firmware password - - that is its main purpose, to protect you against local hackers, etc.

Question: Are you sure this is for a firmware password? All you will see is an open box, with a padlock on the left end.
NOT the same as an account login screen, or the screen where you would enter a password to unlock a filevault encrypted drive...

Last breath... Have you tried booting into Safe boot mode? With nothing plugged in? no network cable, no power adapter, nothing plugged in to any port, and no card in an SD slot (check to make sure)

One more - is there ANY possibility that you used a different language keyboard for setup of the firmware password? Some language characters won't work (thinking German here!), if the firmware is looking for an english keyboard at boot, for example.
 
You can't boot to another volume, such as a macOS installer, if you can't enter the firmware password - - that is its main purpose, to protect you against local hackers, etc.

Question: Are you sure this is for a firmware password? All you will see is an open box, with a padlock on the left end.
NOT the same as an account login screen, or the screen where you would enter a password to unlock a filevault encrypted drive...

Last breath... Have you tried booting into Safe boot mode? With nothing plugged in? no network cable, no power adapter, nothing plugged in to any port, and no card in an SD slot (check to make sure)

One more - is there ANY possibility that you used a different language keyboard for setup of the firmware password? Some language characters won't work (thinking German here!), if the firmware is looking for an english keyboard at boot, for example.
Yes im pretty sure its the firmware password. Its a padlock ontop of a space to type in the password.
Yes i tried booting it on safe mode. The language wouldnt be an issue since even the Options key doesnt work.
 
I asked, because each of those can leave you with a similar password query.

Do you get the boot chime when you do a PRAM reset?
If you do get a chime then, hold the Opt-Command-P and R until you hear the chime two more times, then release the keys. That should result in a default boot to the internal drive, which should boot to your installed system.
(I'm guessing this won't help, because you have probably already erased the internal drive, so there's no system installed, hence, your problem getting past the firmware password. Am I correct?)

If a system is still installed, you could try this: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/cant-type-firmware-password-keyboard-not-responding.1950979/
 
Last edited:
I asked, because each of those can leave you with a similar password query.

Do you get the boot chime when you do a PRAM reset?
If you do get a chime then, hold the Opt-Command-P and R until you hear the chime two more times, then release the keys. That should result in a default boot to the internal drive, which should boot to your installed system.
(I'm guessing this won't help, because you have probably already erased the internal drive, so there's no system installed, hence, your problem getting past the firmware password. Am I correct?)

If a system is still installed, you could try this: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/cant-type-firmware-password-keyboard-not-responding.1950979/
I didnt erase the internal drive, and no commands work .. i think i hit a brick wall here and my only option is to go see an IT Engineer or hacker or sell it this way for half price. Thanks alot for helping !
 
Try the safe boot mode again.
Try a different USB keyboard, an apple-brand one, if possible.

(I'm grasping at straws here :D )
Try disconnecting the battery, pull the internal drive out while you have the bottom off.
So, power adapter only, and no hard drive installed.
First, reset SMC (press and hold the (left side) Shift-Control-Option, then press power. Hold for about 10 seconds.
Then, try a PRAM reset (press and release power, hold Option-Command-P-R) If you get a chime, keep holding the same 4 keys, until you hear 2 more chimes.
If chimes don't happen, and it goes straight to password screen again, was there any other change? Be sure to try your firmware password before doing anything else, even to the point of simply typing it in blindly, pressing Enter just as if the keyboard WAS responding.
Hopefully, you will see a flashing folder/(?) --- because there's no boot drive at all.
and, reinstall the hard drive, reset the firmware password (you should be able to do that now)

(I know, wishful thinking, but still worth a try, and won't take too long to rule that out. :cool: )
 
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