I can't log on to my mac

Question

Level 1

4 points

I can't log on to my mac

I got my laptop back from the repair shop a couple fo days ago, and when I tried to log in, it froze. I turned it off and on again and then it wouldn't accept my password.

I've attempted to open it in recovery mode, but it state that there are no users avaible for password recovery and no icloud account connected.

In disk utility it say that Machintosh HD cannot be mounted (if I open in internet recovery). In normal recovery it brings up a password box but then it will not let me type (the mouse and keyboard are working fine).

In terminal it states the disk it lcoked. When I try to unlock it it asks for a passphrase. When I enter my usual one it says it is wrong/no user found. It's saying it can't find open directory, there's no corelogical volume.

The disk seems to be encrypted from filevault and locked. Is there anyway I can access it without loosing data?

Please help, I'm stuck as to what to try next.

If I have to erase, can someone tell me how I can back up in recovery mode without access to a locked disk?

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.14

Posted on Jan 11, 2020 11:06 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,849 points

Jan 11, 2020 11:28 AM in response to ckatie

You cannot backup from recovery mode nor access a locked disk without the password. You can erase the disk and install macOS from scratch. If you have a Late-2011 or later MBP, then you can do Internet Recovery:

Internet/Network Recovery of El Capitan or Later on a Clean Disk

Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the (Command-Option-R) keys until a globe appears.
The Utility Menu will appear in from 5-20 minutes. Be patient.
Select Disk Utility and click on the Continue button.
When Disk Utility loads select the target drive (will be the out-dented entry) from the side list.
Click on the Erase button in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
Set the partition scheme to GUID.
Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
Click on the Apply button, then click on the Done button when it activates.
Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.

This should restore the last version of macOS that was installed. If you need to restore the original version of macOS installed on the computer then do the following instead:

Internet/Network Recovery of El Capitan or Later on a Clean Disk

Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the (Command-Option-Shift-R) keys until a globe appears.
The Utility Menu will appear in from 5-20 minutes. Be patient.
Select Disk Utility and click on the Continue button.
When Disk Utility loads select the target drive (will be the out-dented entry) from the side list.
Click on the Erase button in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
Set the partition scheme to GUID.
Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
Click on the Apply button, then click on the Done button when it activates.
Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

361,849 points

Jan 11, 2020 11:57 AM in response to ckatie

Not unless you can gain access to the disk. Perhaps the repair person encrypted the disk during macOS installation. I really know less about the situation than you.

I don't know why the disk is locked other than it was encrypted and you don't know the password.

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

361,849 points

Jan 11, 2020 11:22 AM in response to ckatie

Return it to the repair shop and have them fix it. They are responsible for the problem. Surely, they warrant their work for some period of time - 30, 60, or 90 days?

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