I purchased a refurbished A1419 IMac from a authorized Apple Store that later went out of business. They didn’t provide me the firmware password at time of purchase. About a yr or so ago, the lock appeared, and was told to bring it in to the Apple store with proof of purchase which I did,for them to reset or remove. They later told me they couldn’t help me, because I was not the original owner. So if you’re purchase a refurb iMac, beware..my original invoice did not correspond with the original owners name. I posted my frustration on the BBB website and Apple would not do anything to help me. This should be a Class Action Lawsuit for those who may have purchased from a authorized Apple dealer/store. Any help would be appreciated
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Firmware lock
- Thread starter Mightymouse15
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Okay... you bought this iMac knowing that a firmware password was on it. The consequence of doing this is that you have to bring it into Apple for them to remove it, and like you said, in order to do that, you have to have an original receipt. Unfortunately, there's no way to remove an unknown firmware password on 2012-2017 Macs. They probably didn't provide the password because they didn't know it.
Still though, it might be worth your time to read these articles:
- https://mrmacintosh.com/how-to-remove-mac-firmware-password-new-way-if-you-have-a-2018-2020-t2-mac/
- https://reverse.put.as/2016/06/25/apple-efi-firmware-passwords-and-the-scbo-myth/
Still though, it might be worth your time to read these articles:
- https://mrmacintosh.com/how-to-remove-mac-firmware-password-new-way-if-you-have-a-2018-2020-t2-mac/
- https://reverse.put.as/2016/06/25/apple-efi-firmware-passwords-and-the-scbo-myth/
If you bought it from Apple Refurbished, they would have taken care of it for you. You essentially bought it from a third-party. That they were an authorized reseller doesn't matter.
I went to buy an iMac today from a Craigslist ad. I brought a bootable external SSD to verify that I could boot off of it, verified that there was no EFI lock and I asked about Find My Device and the seller said that he had removed it from his list of devices. I'm going to set it up and boot it at home but I have his email, address and phone number if I have any problems.
SOP is to check this stuff when you look at a system. I do not buy stuff via post because of the inherent problems in doing so.
I went to buy an iMac today from a Craigslist ad. I brought a bootable external SSD to verify that I could boot off of it, verified that there was no EFI lock and I asked about Find My Device and the seller said that he had removed it from his list of devices. I'm going to set it up and boot it at home but I have his email, address and phone number if I have any problems.
SOP is to check this stuff when you look at a system. I do not buy stuff via post because of the inherent problems in doing so.
Nashville customers say laptops held hostage at tech shop
Nashville customers said their laptops and phones are being held hostage at a local store that closed due to bankruptcy.
www.newschannel5.com
This is where it was purchased, but the store filed bankruptcy, and they closed their stores.
You’re going to need to crack open your iMac and some decent soldering skills, to replace a particular BIOS chip with one not locked previously.
If you’re willing and able to roll up your sleeves, this is the workaround — shy of genealogical-like sleuthing into that iMac’s history, from factory to when it was in your hands.
Good luck!
I looked briefly at the article you posted in reply 6 above.
It appears that this shop was not actually an Apple-owned store, but a "3rd-party provider" who serviced/sold Macs.
You wrote in your original post:
"I purchased a refurbished A1419 IMac from a authorized Apple Store..."
Stop right there.
No, you did not.
An "Apple Store" is owned and operated BY APPLE.
You bought a used/reconditioned Mac from a 3rd-party store (even though it may have been an authorized Apple service provider, it was not owned by Apple).
The Mac you bought was probably originally sold to a private individual, who later sold or traded it to that shop.
So, the "original owner" was the "first person" who originally bought the Mac (and probably registered it with Apple).
Apple isn't going to remove the firmware password on a Mac like this.
Your choices at this point as I see them:
- continue to use it "as it is" (if it can still be used)
- put it into the closet and get a replacement
- try to find a "non-Apple solution" to remove the firmware password (might be more trouble than it's worth).
Next time, either buy new from Apple (directly), or at an Apple store, or consider buying from Apple's online refurbished store. (check your conversations)
It appears that this shop was not actually an Apple-owned store, but a "3rd-party provider" who serviced/sold Macs.
You wrote in your original post:
"I purchased a refurbished A1419 IMac from a authorized Apple Store..."
Stop right there.
No, you did not.
An "Apple Store" is owned and operated BY APPLE.
You bought a used/reconditioned Mac from a 3rd-party store (even though it may have been an authorized Apple service provider, it was not owned by Apple).
The Mac you bought was probably originally sold to a private individual, who later sold or traded it to that shop.
So, the "original owner" was the "first person" who originally bought the Mac (and probably registered it with Apple).
Apple isn't going to remove the firmware password on a Mac like this.
Your choices at this point as I see them:
- continue to use it "as it is" (if it can still be used)
- put it into the closet and get a replacement
- try to find a "non-Apple solution" to remove the firmware password (might be more trouble than it's worth).
Next time, either buy new from Apple (directly), or at an Apple store, or consider buying from Apple's online refurbished store. (check your conversations)
As an aside: Apple in the early 21st century command the vertical and horizontal authority Eastman Kodak commanded in the mid 20th century. It’ll be interesting to see how the coming years will unfold!
Piece of cake in the case of iMac A1419 if you know your way on the logicboard.
It's all over Youtube how to do it
With no special equipment:
1. Open the iMac
2. Locate the EFI (firmware) chip
3. Desolder it out (you will need a hot air gun, 20$~100$ depending on brand)
4. Put it on a chip programmer/reader (this programer is about 10~12$)
5. Read and save the EFI (firmware file)
6. Open the file with a Hex Editor application
7. Locate the password part and delete them all.
8. Write it back to the chip
9. Solder the chip back to the iMac logic board. (hot air gun and solder paste)
If you can't do it by yourself, any laptop repair shop can do it for you for a fee. And that fee is much cheaper than the cost you have to pay for a lawyer in a class action suit.
Sumthin' tells me the OP isn't interested in a "piece of cake" procedure that requires removal of not only the logic board but the EFI chip on it as well.
If he pays someone to do this, he might as well put the money towards a Mac that actually works.
If he pays someone to do this, he might as well put the money towards a Mac that actually works.
Why do you need to remove the logicboard for that?
The EFI chip is located on the exposed side of the logicboard, visible when you remove the LCD panel.