need to clear my firmware password

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Level 1

7 points

need to clear my firmware password

i have 15in mac book pro purchased back in December 2010 with the open firmware password currently set. i set it awhile ago and was one of those things that i set it once and forgot about it. luckly i saved it in my password app on my iphone or so i thought. come to find out the entry was there but the password itself is missing, to make matters work i changed the boot order to boot to my bootcamp partition in a mass panic to try and start watching NFL sunday ticket to go last week. well it booted to windows except now im stuck in windows since i still have a firmware password set.

what is the easiest, fastest way to remove the firmware password so i can boot back to the Mac partition and set it as the default?

Mac book Pro 15", Mac OS X (10.6.6), ipad 3g+Wifi & iphone 3gs

Posted on Sep 13, 2011 9:04 PM

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Answer 1

PinSeeka Author

Level 1

7 points

Sep 14, 2011 3:09 PM in response to Don Archibald

unable to boot in open firmware (command+option+O+F) when the computer boots. researched and found this thread to explain why:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2563633?start=0&tstart=0

i guess its onto the memory removal option at this point.

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Answer 2

X423424X

Level 6

14,271 points

Sep 13, 2011 9:35 PM in response to PinSeeka

1. Insert your Snow Leoperd installer dvd.

2. Assuming you installer is the same name as mine ( User uploaded file "Mac OS X Install DVD") cut/paste the following line in the terminal:

open -a /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Install\ DVD/Applications/Utilities/Firmware\ Password\ Utility.app

3. Firmware Password Utility, I assume, is the utility you can use to create, and I presume, remove, an open firmware password.

By the way, I haven't had any occations to boot up on my installer dvd. I do know that when you do and skip the install you have access to Disk Utility. Since that's also located in that Utilities folder I reference in that open command, perhpas the Firmware Password Utility is available that way as well.

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Answer 3

PinSeeka Author

Level 1

7 points

Sep 13, 2011 9:37 PM in response to ATILANO

cant boot to the cd, nor can i boot back into the mac partition. im locked out, it keeps prompting for a password. since i changed the boot disk when i was in the mac partition and rebooted im stuck in my bootcamp windows 7 at the moment.

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Answer 4

X423424X

Level 6

14,271 points

Sep 13, 2011 10:01 PM in response to PinSeeka

I did a little more searching and found this link which has the following:

Disabling Password Protection

1) Boot into the Open Firmware. (Command + Option + O + F)

2) Type "setenv security-mode none" and press return.

3) Enter in the password at the password request prompt and press return.

4) Then type "reset-all" to restart the computer.

Force Removing Password Protection

1) Add or remove DIMMs to change the total amount of RAM in the computer.

2) Then, the PRAM must be reset 3 times. (Command + Option + P + R).

The changing the number of dimms and pram reset 3 times looks interesting.

If the reset can be done by the so called apple "geniuses" then there's got to be a way others can do it too.

Update:

This link also documents the change dimm count and 3 pram reset method as well (...actually closer reading shows they said wait for 3 chimes not 3 pram resets, hmm).

FWIW, I'm finding this stuff by doing a google search for "remove os x open firmware password".

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Answer 5

PinSeeka Author

Level 1

7 points

Sep 13, 2011 10:07 PM in response to X423424X

to reset the PRAM 3 times do you do the (command+option+P+R) 3 consecutive times, or do you have to, press it once then reboot the machine and do it again, and repeat one more time?

yea i was to, i found both of those options, just didnt know if either applied to my machine.

thanks

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Answer 6

X423424X

Level 6

14,271 points

Sep 13, 2011 10:23 PM in response to PinSeeka

Based on those instructions you can't hurt anything by trying that procedure (well, ok, maybe your fingers trying to push all the keys at the same time 😉). But if they are saying do a pram reset 3 times then I take that to mean that you try booting that way 3 consecutive times starting from a power off state. Pushing the keys after your booted can't do anything.

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Answer 7

Sep 13, 2011 11:22 PM in response to PinSeeka

PRAM reset -

Boot the machine. Immediately press the key combination Command-Option-P-R and keep the keys held down until you've heard three sets of startup chimes.

Note - if you're using a wireless keyboard, you may need to wait until the initial startup chime has sounded before pressing the keys.

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Answer 8

PinSeeka Author

Level 1

7 points

Sep 15, 2011 5:58 PM in response to John.Kitzmiller

removing the 10 screws from the bottom of the MBP and removing one 4gb memory chip, booting the laptop up and then shutting it down again, reinserting the 4gb memory stick screwed back on the bottom part of the case and boo ya, cleared the boot password. that was really easy and yet at the same time really sad that it was so easy to clear that password. so much for securing the MBP from booting to another media.

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Answer 9

Sep 15, 2011 6:26 PM in response to PinSeeka

The latest line of machines has a more complicated method of clearing the firmware password that only Apple stores and authorized service providers have access to. Much more secure, but I do miss being able to clear the firmware password on my own if needed.

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Answer 10

Sep 14, 2011 4:45 PM in response to PinSeeka

Yes, memory removal is the easiest and fastest way to clear out a firmware password. Just pull one of the memory modules, boot the machine, shut it down, put the memory back and you're good to go.

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