firmware password help !

[fabuika02]

Hi i bought a macbook pro like 7 months ago used. it had snow leopard and i upgraded to lion, i need to do a clean install so i need to re-install snow leopard first but i am unable to do so because it won't boot from a cd pressing the letter "c" as i guess it has a firmware password that i don't know it and i don't know how to remove it ... Any advice will be helpful, the macbook pro still under warranty until october it is a mid 2010 model , 4gb ram 2,4 ghz intel core 2


Thank You

 

[GGJstudios]

Setting up firmware password protection in Mac OS X

 

[fabuika02]

i read the apple support page, but in order to disable it i need to boot from snow leopard cd and i can't boot from cd holding the"c" at the beginning.

 

[NeedMoreVideo]

From the linked article (bold added):

Warning: The Open Firmware Password can be reset and changed by any one of the following (except MacBook Air):

By any administrator user, as designated in the Accounts preferences (or in Server Admin).
Via physical access to the inside of the computer.
When the computer is started up in Mac OS 9.

This implies that there is a way that Apple can disable it by taking the machine apart. Take it in and have it disabled. They will probably charge you money for this unless you buy apple care 90 days before you tell apple about the problem.

Next time use filevault2 as its more secure anyways and also easier to reinstall if (when) you forget your password again.

 

[robbieduncan]

Try this:

1) Shut down the computer
2) Remove one of the two sticks of RAM in it (or if it only has one add one)
3) Reboot holding down Command-Option-P-R until you hear the startup sound twice (twice, not once).

I have heard this removes the firmware password...

 

[urimils]

Are you sure there's a firmware password?

restart the computer holding 'alt', and see if it asks you for a password.

and if it does, perhaps you can contact the person you bought it from, and ask him what it might be?(don't try to guess)

 

[Mal]

Try this:

1) Shut down the computer
2) Remove one of the two sticks of RAM in it (or if it only has one add one)
3) Reboot holding down Command-Option-P-R until you hear the startup sound twice (twice, not once).

I have heard this removes the firmware password...

This should work for that MacBook. Starting with, I believe, the 2010 models, it won't work anymore, however. Apple now has to send a service center a special single-use bootable disk that will unlock and allow them to reset the firmware password on that specific machine. Quite secure, although kind of a pain.

jW