None of this will work because the computer has a firmware password. It's not possible to reinstall the OS or reset the admin password.
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Got screwed, my macbook has a password on it
- Thread starter GotScrewed
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Jonathan,
Situation 1:
When I press Control + R at Startup:
Once the Mac restarts and I hold down the Command (⌘) and R keys, there is a picture of a lock and a text box below it.
Situation 2:
Uninterrupted Startup - Normal:
Once the Mac restarts and I do nothing, it takes me to the page with all the pretty icons, I can surf the net, play music and type in Ms Office / Excel.
But when I go to lets say apple's website to download Xcode for apps, it says go to App Store, I click and go to App Store, it says I dont have permission to access app store, then I click Allow Always or Allow Once, it says enter Administrator username and password.
So does this mean now that
Situation 1:
When I press Control + R at Startup:
Once the Mac restarts and I hold down the Command (⌘) and R keys, there is a picture of a lock and a text box below it.
Situation 2:
Uninterrupted Startup - Normal:
Once the Mac restarts and I do nothing, it takes me to the page with all the pretty icons, I can surf the net, play music and type in Ms Office / Excel.
But when I go to lets say apple's website to download Xcode for apps, it says go to App Store, I click and go to App Store, it says I dont have permission to access app store, then I click Allow Always or Allow Once, it says enter Administrator username and password.
So does this mean now that
I believe this is the screen Op is referring to:
Which is the firmware password screen. I'm just mentioning this so we can all get a complete understanding of what he sees when he uses CMD + R to boot up.
If I had to guess he has been given a notebook that is booting in to a guest or non-admin account by default without a password at login. So when he differs from this by using CMD + R the firmware password kicks in which he doesn't have.
Considering that the guy you bought this from isn't answering and didn't mention this password I reckon you've been given a stolen notebook. The fact it isn't reported to Apple yet could be for a number of reasons, maybe the owner isn't aware you can report an item stolen to Apple or he doesn't have the serial anymore to report it to them.
Just my theory anyways, your best bet is to try and contact your seller and hope he just wasn't answering his phone and has the password and isn't a criminal who sold you stolen goods.
Which is the firmware password screen. I'm just mentioning this so we can all get a complete understanding of what he sees when he uses CMD + R to boot up.
If I had to guess he has been given a notebook that is booting in to a guest or non-admin account by default without a password at login. So when he differs from this by using CMD + R the firmware password kicks in which he doesn't have.
Considering that the guy you bought this from isn't answering and didn't mention this password I reckon you've been given a stolen notebook. The fact it isn't reported to Apple yet could be for a number of reasons, maybe the owner isn't aware you can report an item stolen to Apple or he doesn't have the serial anymore to report it to them.
Just my theory anyways, your best bet is to try and contact your seller and hope he just wasn't answering his phone and has the password and isn't a criminal who sold you stolen goods.
From the OP
In fact she even emailed me a link for the firmware unlock which she said would be simple to fix.
This seems like a strange part of the story.
It appears that before you bought it you knew it was firmware locked and checked with apple and they said essentially no problem with that nasty EFI firmware lock, here is a link to the easy fix.
So based on that you went ahead and bought it and now you are where you are.
So it would probably be a good idea to take that email from Apple with you to the Apple store.
In fact she even emailed me a link for the firmware unlock which she said would be simple to fix.
This seems like a strange part of the story.
It appears that before you bought it you knew it was firmware locked and checked with apple and they said essentially no problem with that nasty EFI firmware lock, here is a link to the easy fix.
So based on that you went ahead and bought it and now you are where you are.
So it would probably be a good idea to take that email from Apple with you to the Apple store.
^^This. This thread has gotten badly off track; ignore all the other answers. You already talked to Apple, they said it wasn't stolen, they (and the original seller for goodness sake) said there was a firmware issue that needed to be cleared up. Assuming your original post was accurate, just get Apple to fix it, follow the email link or whatever.
Something being stolen is always a risk, but you said you called Apple ahead of time. So, unless the guy unloaded it very quickly, you should be okay.
Is there a way OP can look up the apple id associated to this MBP, kind of like there is on an iPad? Might be a backdoor to find the owner or contact the seller for the password.
Also, what are the steps you need to take to protect yourself when purchasing? So far I gather:
1) try booting with CNTR+R to see if the EFI is locked
2) access to admin account with password
3) icloud? how to transfer from one appleID to another for the findmymacbook function.
anything else?
Also OP: What did the link AppleCare sent you say? Was it simply to bring it to the Apple store? or was it a link you had to enter in an Apple ID?
Also, what are the steps you need to take to protect yourself when purchasing? So far I gather:
1) try booting with CNTR+R to see if the EFI is locked
2) access to admin account with password
3) icloud? how to transfer from one appleID to another for the findmymacbook function.
anything else?
Also OP: What did the link AppleCare sent you say? Was it simply to bring it to the Apple store? or was it a link you had to enter in an Apple ID?
The trouble is that Apple doesn't maintain a universal database of stolen devices. Everything about the OP's purchase points to this being stolen.
So why not just get another hard drive and boot to it a new copy of 10.9 or something. I am a windows guy now CONVERT to Mac but does this still not work.
I would just take out the harddrive, attach it to a sata, completely wipe it and reformat to Mac then use bootable usb to create new image. What is so hard about that?
Is the harddrive non-removable in his mac? I know the new ones are all about soldering in everything.
________________________________________________________________________________
Edit...just review a video of the internal ssd's int he newer mac's. They are still regular sata without the casing basically. I would buy a cheap sata drive enclosure, connect the drive from my computer to it, plug it into another pc or mac and completely wipe it and start over.
Video I am referencing = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hbqn51nwgs#t=169
I would just take out the harddrive, attach it to a sata, completely wipe it and reformat to Mac then use bootable usb to create new image. What is so hard about that?
Is the harddrive non-removable in his mac? I know the new ones are all about soldering in everything.
________________________________________________________________________________
Edit...just review a video of the internal ssd's int he newer mac's. They are still regular sata without the casing basically. I would buy a cheap sata drive enclosure, connect the drive from my computer to it, plug it into another pc or mac and completely wipe it and start over.
Video I am referencing = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hbqn51nwgs#t=169
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The firmware password will stop the computer from booting from any other drive, even if you swap the current one for another.
Also in the rMBP they are not regular SATA drives without the casing, they are modified PCIe SSD's.
Ex PC guy here. The password mentioned is similar to a bios administrative password. Very rare to see, only used by the most paranoid, but won't allow any boot or access to bios without it.
about 10 years ago a client brought his PC in, begging me to crack his bios password. I googled (was google around then?) and found luckily his bios had a backdoor that would cost $10 for the backdoor key.
You could see the look on his face was partly relief but partly anger that his trusted security plan only cost $10 to work around.
AHHHH now I am on board. Yea the bios password is never used which is why most PC's can be unlocked using a simple password recovery tool on a usb stick. Just boot to it and bam...easy as pie.
Here at my job we do use the Bios locked on specific machines just to eliminate folks trying to do that.
I think the key here is the message that shows when locked. You put your message on there that it's 'property of XX XX, phone, email, reward if returned intact' on there, then make it impossible for it to be removed without the password makes it a much less valuable commodity.
Sure, it can be parted out, but no common thief is patient for that.
Sure, it can be parted out, but no common thief is patient for that.
Seriously. For the first time I'm actually about to do so myself.
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And, more to the point, it's easy for Apple to reset it. What confuses me about this whole story is that the OP had no problems calling and inquiring of Apple several times before the sale, and now that it's done, he comes to MacRumors. That just isn't quite right.
I agree, I should go now to the Apple Store to check it out. What happens if it is actually stolen? Do I get in to trouble? I have lived a clean life and dont want any marks on my civil record, If yes I could get in to trouble then I'd rather just throw the laptop in the dump, I have a good corporate job and eerything, domnt want to risk going to the Apple Store and getting arrested or somethng
OP, you won't get in any trouble. It's that hyper paranoia that makes you look like the thief and will definitely get the Apple genius defensive.
You got an email from Apple with a link with instructions, right? What does it say to do? Go to the store or go to a webpage?
BTW, what model did you buy and how much did you pay?
You got an email from Apple with a link with instructions, right? What does it say to do? Go to the store or go to a webpage?
BTW, what model did you buy and how much did you pay?
Well, except for this whole "receiving stolen goods" incident.
I kid. Seriously, if it turns out to be stolen you won't find yourself in any trouble so long as you're doing the right thing, which it seems that you would be in this situation. Take it to the Apple store and give them the straight story and don't try to hide anything. No worries.
Seriously, why is there no simple webpage form you can search to verify it's not a stolen iDevice? If it's tied to my appleid, that is practically the same as registration.
I got into a discussion with an Apple AHA over this and a locked ipad. She told me that Apple refuses to get involved in ownership issues for privacy reasons. Now that there is FindMyIpad, it's not apple doing it, it's the user forcing the trace. So maybe privacy or liability is the reason. Feels oddly lazy though.
I got into a discussion with an Apple AHA over this and a locked ipad. She told me that Apple refuses to get involved in ownership issues for privacy reasons. Now that there is FindMyIpad, it's not apple doing it, it's the user forcing the trace. So maybe privacy or liability is the reason. Feels oddly lazy though.
My dear friend, I dont get your "confusion" the poster gave the serial number to me on my craigslist inquiry, he even sent me a screen shot which shows the Apple care Status... Naturally I called Apple Customer Service and ran the number by them to check if its clean and the person said it is...
Prior to purchase it "wasnt" in my "possesion" so I could call Apple Care and ask all i wanted, but now that I have it in my "possesion" and fear that it might be stolen... is it a good idea for me to physically walk in to an apple store with a potentially stolen good and wait for some "genius" to call the cops on me or something?
Like I said I have a clean and spotless record, good corporate job etc and everything, is it a good idea to do even go to an Apple Store?
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And, more to the point, it's easy for Apple to reset it. What confuses me about this whole story is that the OP had no problems calling and inquiring of Apple several times before the sale, and now that it's done, he comes to MacRumors. That just isn't quite right.[/QUOTE]
Prior to purchase it "wasnt" in my "possesion" so I could call Apple Care and ask all i wanted, but now that I have it in my "possesion" and fear that it might be stolen... is it a good idea for me to physically walk in to an apple store with a potentially stolen good and wait for some "genius" to call the cops on me or something?
Like I said I have a clean and spotless record, good corporate job etc and everything, is it a good idea to do even go to an Apple Store?
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[/COLOR]
And, more to the point, it's easy for Apple to reset it. What confuses me about this whole story is that the OP had no problems calling and inquiring of Apple several times before the sale, and now that it's done, he comes to MacRumors. That just isn't quite right.[/QUOTE]
Everything is soldered other than the SSD.
iFixit gave it an awful rating saying even removing the LCD would break it.
People get scammed off of eBay and craigslist all the time. Here's an example article on what you are going through and how Apple reset's it. Everyone's posting the same old method that no longer works. Only Apple's tool can reset the password.
Considering you stated that you spoke to Apple previously, you should have no problem going into the store with the phone/chat records. You spent hard earned money on this, don't be afraid to get it fixed. Sure, if it was stolen the owner is SOL regardless of who bought it.
Off topic, but this has become an issue at my place of employment. I'm in IT and we manage company-owned iphones, on which users are able to use their own AppleID's. Since iOS7 activation lock implementation if an employee leaves and refuses to turn off Find My iPhone (or supply the credentials) then the device is a brick to us. Apple will not help. It's a serious problem.
Relax, truly chill. Go in there, just say you need the password reset on a used device. They will look up the serial number, and do it. If it's stolen, they will tell you and give you a chance to turn it in.
No one is going to go SWAT on you.
Now tell me what the AppleCare person emailed to you? Was it a link to clear the password or was it instructions to bring it in?
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I don't doubt that being a huge problem, especially if the departed staff member is disgruntled. A good employee wouldn't risk burning bridges or a reference.
Guess your company will have to make that an additional form to sign at hire, stating that the iDevice will need to be returned within X days of termination in a clear state else a $500 hardware replacement charge will be incurred on your final check. Of course it will need to be IT that confirms the cleared state, so you will need to reattach it to the corp generic appleID after a reset. Under a 15 minute transaction but a pain in bulk.
Apple should not help you bypass their lock - it's the first best level of defense for our iDevices. I can't believe they let people reset devices and reprogram them with other appleIDs and that wasn't deemed prudent grounds to track stolen goods. In many instances people use their real name in their appleID email address!
No one is going to go SWAT on you.
Now tell me what the AppleCare person emailed to you? Was it a link to clear the password or was it instructions to bring it in?
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I don't doubt that being a huge problem, especially if the departed staff member is disgruntled. A good employee wouldn't risk burning bridges or a reference.
Guess your company will have to make that an additional form to sign at hire, stating that the iDevice will need to be returned within X days of termination in a clear state else a $500 hardware replacement charge will be incurred on your final check. Of course it will need to be IT that confirms the cleared state, so you will need to reattach it to the corp generic appleID after a reset. Under a 15 minute transaction but a pain in bulk.
Apple should not help you bypass their lock - it's the first best level of defense for our iDevices. I can't believe they let people reset devices and reprogram them with other appleIDs and that wasn't deemed prudent grounds to track stolen goods. In many instances people use their real name in their appleID email address!
So far it has only come up once, and the employee in question had actually died. This was when we realized the ramifications of activation lock. In this case the employee's spouse is also employed by our company and was able to supply us with the credentials to unlock the device. But I know it'll come up again under other circumstances.
In retrospect it would have been better for us to require that employees use appleids based on their corporate email address (which we'd have access to) rather than allowing them to use their existing ID's. But then I could see push back from employees since we'd then essentially have access to their credit card info via those accounts. Hard to get the toothpaste back in the tube now though.