Macbook Pro & Firmware chip

Question

Macbook Pro & Firmware chip

I bought a reconditioned 15 inch macbook Pro , from 2015 . On trying to do stuff in safe mode , I got a padlock ! The previous owner had evidently set a firmware password , so I took the book, to the seller , who was adamant. that. once he did a factory re set , and put in the newest O/S, that would have deleted any firmware password, so I must have set a password by mistake ! He now expects me to pay for him to remove the. chip the password is stored in , and replace it with a blank one ! As far as I have understood the YouTube clips, once someone sets a firmware password, its there , forever, irrespective of how many re sets and. O/S changes you make , is that not correct ? Any help will be greatly appreciated , Thanks .

Posted on Jun 17, 2023 5:12 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

145,257 points

Jun 17, 2023 7:04 AM in response to CryptoSPYridium

firmware password lock is a theft deterrent.

It locks the settings of the firmware, precluding re-loading any different MacOS or booting from any different devices.

it is EXACTLY the roadblock to re-purposing this Mac, and this Mac is NOT usable unless/until the firmware password is known or is removed.

Firmware password is NOT removed by erasing the drive. it requires knowing the firmware password.

if you do not know the firmware password, your Firmware Password can be reset (but the drive is wiped in the process) by an Apple-Authorized Service Provider PROVIDED you can produce chain of bill-of-sale including serial number back to the original sale when new, all referencing serial number.

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Answer 2

Jun 17, 2023 5:20 AM in response to ku4hx

Going by the YouTube clips, the only way you can get rid of a firmware password,is by unsoldering a chip and replacing it , so I dont think a re set would take care of it , or at least. that is what the clips are saying , Thanks for the fast response

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