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Just bought a Macbook...

M

mikkodd

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 29, 2012
8
0
So i bought a macbook off of a guy from craigslist.. I was playing on it yesterday and all of a sudden it resets and there's a pin code or something. I call him and he tells me to take it to apple. He told me he bought it for his girlfriend and sold it because he had bills to pay and she was selfish and i don't know what to do. What should i do take it to apple? I have the Snow leopard Disc but cant boot it since its a 2011 macbook and i cant get around the firmware password. Is there anyway i can check the serial # to see if its stolen?
 
Last edited:
You did get a signed receipt from him, right? Or at least prove you bought it from him. If you did, I would go ahead and call your local police station and check it out. You don't want anything stolen.
 
If all else fails, hit craigslist again. If you search you will find an independent apple computer repair guy or ten listed I bet.
 
I guess it's just me that wonders why someone would buy a used computer and not check it out enough to know that it had an EFI password on it. The seller not being able to supply it would have in and of itself had me politely pushing it back across the table and wishing the seller a nice day.

Apple store can reset it. Be prepared to prove ownership.
 
All you need to do is open up the back, unplug the battery and ram then press the power button. It kills the EFI settings and resets the PRAM. Once that's done you can plug everything back in and access the MacBook as per normal, don't need to contact Apple for help.
 
negativzero said:
All you need to do is open up the back, unplug the battery and ram then press the power button. It kills the EFI settings and resets the PRAM. Once that's done you can plug everything back in and access the MacBook as per normal, don't need to contact Apple for help.
Click to expand...

This does not work with the 2011 macs. I could be wrong but I believe you have to take it to an apple dealer with proof of ownership to get the firmware reset.
 
hotgrease said:
Can you boot holding Command-R and then access the Utilities menu from there?
Click to expand...

No.

negativzero said:
All you need to do is open up the back, unplug the battery and ram then press the power button. It kills the EFI settings and resets the PRAM. Once that's done you can plug everything back in and access the MacBook as per normal, don't need to contact Apple for help.
Click to expand...

Not quite right.

Remove the battery.
Remove a RAM chip.
Replace the battery.
Reboot the machine while holding COMMAND+OPTION+P+R.
Wait for the startup chime to sound 3 times.
Release the keys and shutdown the machine once you reach the login.
Remove the battery, replace the RAM chip.
Replace the battery.
Restart.
 
G-Mo said:
No.



Not quite right.

Remove the battery.
Remove a RAM chip.
Replace the battery.
Reboot the machine while holding COMMAND+OPTION+P+R.
Wait for the startup chime to sound 3 times.
Release the keys and shutdown the machine once you reach the login.
Remove the battery, replace the RAM chip.
Replace the battery.
Restart.
Click to expand...
Ill try this.. So get a new battery? And this method will work on the early 2011 model? If this fails off to the Apple Store :(
 
mikkodd said:
Ill try this.. So get a new battery? If this fails off to the Apple Store :(
Click to expand...

NO. On new MBPs the battery is built in. You may be able to do this without removing the battery.

Actually I'd call the cops and report the SOB that sold it to you.

And next time you do something like this get a receipt.
 
shootist said:
NO. On new MBPs the battery is built in. You may be able to do this without removing the battery.

Actually I'd call the cops and report the SOB that sold it to you.

And next time you do something like this get a receipt.
Click to expand...

Yeah man lesson learned.
 
G-Mo said:
Remove the battery.
Remove a RAM chip.
Replace the battery.
Reboot the machine while holding COMMAND+OPTION+P+R.
Wait for the startup chime to sound 3 times.
Release the keys and shutdown the machine once you reach the login.
Remove the battery, replace the RAM chip.
Replace the battery.
Restart.
Click to expand...

I tried this method first, then every single way I could imagine to alter or reset the EFI settings. Unplugging the battery, unplugging drives, rearranging the RAM, holding the power button, running without the battery. Nothing.

I'm sorry, but it seems that the ROM is persistent...
 
G-Mo said:
I'll expand for you... No, you cannot boot holding Command-R and then access the Utilities menu when there is a firmware password set (without knowing the password).
Click to expand...

Yes, that is much more useful and explanatory than, "no"
 
Take it to the Apple Store and print a copy of your Craigslist correspondence.

That's the best way to do this.
 
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Is it just me or does it sound more like the seller tried to lock it using find my mac?

In that case the solution is much easier than trying to remove a firmware password.
 
borisiii said:
Is it just me or does it sound more like the seller tried to lock it using find my mac?

In that case the solution is much easier than trying to remove a firmware password.
Click to expand...

No, it's certainly the firmware that is locked. I've seen the screen that Find My Mac brings up. As well, Find My Mac only works as long as the user is signed in on that computer, but after removing the hard drive and trying to boot through any other option, it will give the flashing folder icon. It does not want to boot without that password! No modifications can be made to the system.
 
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