Remote Management appears

[MattOnDemand007]

Hey all. I bought a 2015 MacBook Pro last year. No issues. Formatted it, swapped the SSD to an Aura Pro X2, and did a Time Machine restore. Loved it; fast forward to now—I sold it on eBay to fund a new M1 MacBook Air, and after wiping the SSD and reinstalling Big Sur, the buyer is claiming he’s getting a Remote Management Lock Screen on it. I never saw that when I did a Time Machine restore.. is he possibly scamming me to get his money back?

thanks in advance

 

[hobowankenobi]

Sounds like a firmware lock. If you (or any other user) set a firmware password, wiping the drive and installing/reinstalling an OS will not remove the password.

It must be entered, and then the machine will boot...and then it can also be removed. Info here.

You could send him the password, and a link to the info above, so he can log in and also remove it.

 

[AppleSmack]

Sounds like a firmware lock. If you (or any other user) set a firmware password, wiping the drive and installing/reinstalling an OS will not remove the password.

It must be entered, and then the machine will boot...and then it can also be removed. Info here.

You could send him the password, and a link to the info above, so he can log in and also remove it.

Don't you have to wipe/reinstall from Recovery? If firmware lock is on, you'd need the firmware password to reach Recovery in the first place.

 

[hobowankenobi]

Good point. But...some users are unaware, and simply enter the PW when prompted, not realizing it is in firmware, and a wipe of the drive will NOT change that. Outside of something shady, this seems the most likely scenario I can think of.

 

[MattOnDemand007]

Good point. But...some users are unaware, and simply enter the PW when prompted, not realizing it is in firmware, and a wipe of the drive will NOT change that. Outside of something shady, this seems the most likely scenario I can think of.

When I got the machine, I was able to do a Time Machine restore and it was working just fine. I’m due to receive back this MacBook Pro any day now from the buyer. I’m really hoping he’s not pulling a fast one. Last thing I need right now.

 

[hobowankenobi]

So...you did a TM restore before sending it to buyer? Sorry, that confused me. It may be that there was a firmware password all along. When you get it back, you need to boot to Recovery Mode and verify/remove any firmware password.

 

[Suzatlarge]

I hope this isn't the case for you, but you may want to read through this topic: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/cannot-escape-remote-management-by-viasat.2195146/

My post from earlier today is the last one in the discussion as of now. I bought a used 2014 MacBook Pro Retina from a local Mac repair/resale shop, more than 2 years ago. I used it without issues, including upgrading the OS which is now at Catalina. Then this week I got a new M1 Mini, and a good quote for the rMBP from an online Mac buyer/reseller. Today I erased the HD, and then in recovery mode attempted to re install the OS. I got hung up at this screen about two clicks in:

Followed by:

I found the named company online and contacted them through a generic support email. They replied and asked for more information and now they are "working on it." It's possible that I bought a stolen computer although as I said I bought it from an established retail and service shop that's been around for a long time.

I was able to restore the OS etc. from a Time Machine backup. I'm waiting to hear back from the company.

If you only did a Time Machine restore, you wouldn't have run into the Remote Management screen. I didn't when I ran the TM restore today. I can continue to use the MBP if I want (and I don't, I've replaced it), and of course I *did* use it for 2.5 years without any problems.

I hope this isn't your problem, but that "remote management" lock screen comment sounded all too familiar to me.

 

[Suzatlarge]

Quick update: I have now heard from that company, that they had sold the MBP but it was accidentally not removed from their MDM program. They say they have now removed it, and I should be able to erase the hard drive and reinstall the OS without any problem. It's a relief to know I wasn't using a stolen MBP, but I'm disappointed in the shop where I bought it used. If they had done an erase and clean OS install they would have encountered that remote management lock screen, and had to resolve it. Instead they somehow cleaned up the machine and sold it (to me) without doing that. It's a reputable shop that I've done business with in the past, so the disappointment is real.