I have a 2017 MacBook Air, recently returned by a staff member who is ignoring my messages. It has FileVault enabled and I would like access to the data if possible.
It appears to have been linked to their staff email Apple ID, so I was able to reset the Apple ID password. That password is accepted by the recovery assistant in recovery mode (if I intentionally mistype the password, it's rejected), but after briefly saying Recovering FileVault key, I get the error listed in the title.
I have reset SMC and NVRAM/PRAM. The date is set correctly, as that was an issue originally. I can ping in Terminal so the network should be good, and have tried Wi-Fi, Ethernet via Thunderbolt, and both at the same time.
I have extracted the drive and get the same error on another Mac, and if I try reset password while booted off a Sierra installer. If I boot of High Sierra or later installers, I do get a different error about creating an Apple ID.
Any other tips before I nuke this thing?
It appears to have been linked to their staff email Apple ID, so I was able to reset the Apple ID password. That password is accepted by the recovery assistant in recovery mode (if I intentionally mistype the password, it's rejected), but after briefly saying Recovering FileVault key, I get the error listed in the title.
I have reset SMC and NVRAM/PRAM. The date is set correctly, as that was an issue originally. I can ping in Terminal so the network should be good, and have tried Wi-Fi, Ethernet via Thunderbolt, and both at the same time.
I have extracted the drive and get the same error on another Mac, and if I try reset password while booted off a Sierra installer. If I boot of High Sierra or later installers, I do get a different error about creating an Apple ID.
Any other tips before I nuke this thing?