Not able to reformat fusion drive on mac mini in recovery mode

[romadr]

Hello,
I just bought a second hand mac mini and I want to reformat it to install linux.
I did as usual to enter in recovery mode "command + R" to use disk utility and erase the disk
Unfortunately a locked screen asking for a password appears instead and of course I don't have the passord.
I have a username / password to login on macos catalina already installed but I can't see how to repartition the fusion drive without entering recovery mode.
Thanks for your help.

 

[casperes1996]

Hello,
I just bought a second hand mac mini and I want to reformat it to install linux.
I did as usual to enter in recovery mode "command + R" to use disk utility and erase the disk
Unfortunately a locked screen asking for a password appears instead and of course I don't have the passord.
I have a username / password to login on macos catalina already installed but I can't see how to repartition the fusion drive without entering recovery mode.
Thanks for your help.View attachment 1852358

This is a firmware password. Unless this is a very old Mac mini there’s no way around it if you cannot get the firmware password.
If it is a very old Mac, they had a bug in the firmware password system where pulling out a RAM stick could reset it

 

[EmlynDewar]

Yeah, I'd be getting on to the person you bought it from to either get the password or send back for a refund.

 

[Fishrrman]

Chances are if it was presented to you (to buy) as "second hand", but it has a firmware password, it may very well be "stolen merchandise".

If the "seller" refuses to take it back or give you the password, that would almost confirm it.

 

[romadr]

Thanks all of you for your answers, I am kind of screwed as I was unable to return merchandise. Mac mini is now disassembled to try some workarounds. Do you think there is a way to reset the firmware password reset or is stored on the main board ? I was thinking about replacing drives by SSD, unplugging the onboard battery ...

 

[Fishrrman]

The firmware lock is on the motherboard.
You probably need a new board.
Or more correctly, a used replacement board.

 

[chabig]

Changing the memory configuration will remove the firmware password on very old machines, but not newer ones. If that doesn't work, you're out of luck.

 

[Kaida]

the older macs had white background and grey locks so he's probably out of luck

Changing the memory configuration will remove the firmware password on very old machines, but not newer ones. If that doesn't work, you're out of luck.