How to repair my disk

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Level 1

1 points

How to repair my disk

I am running OS 10.8 and am trying to use the Recovery HD to repair my drive. But when I try booting up using Command-R, or Command-option-R, or even just option, it reboots to a lock symbol asking for a password. My admin password does not get past it. I have full permission on the computer otherwise, but am not sure how to get past that screen. I even tried setting up the recovery HD on a thumbdrive and get the same results on startup. Any ideas?

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Dec 27, 2012 7:49 AM

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Answer 1

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Munas

Level 4

1,270 points

Dec 27, 2012 7:58 AM in response to Fredo398

Have you set password for your firmware ?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352

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Answer 2

Fredo398 Author

Level 1

1 points

Dec 27, 2012 11:10 AM in response to Munas

That's what it is. I just need to figure out how to reset it without the snow leopard CD. It is packed deep in my garage. Do you know how i could do it. I was trying to navigate the apple support website but didn't readily see it.

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Answer 3

Munas

Level 4

1,270 points

Dec 27, 2012 1:43 PM in response to Fredo398

It depends on a computer or OS versions

you may try:

Add or remove a stick of RAM (change the amount of RAM - if you have one stick in, add one and if you have two in remove one).

Power on the Mac and immediately press and hold command-option-P-R.

The system will restart with the ‘bong noise’, allow it to do this 3 times. On the third ‘bong’ you can let go of the keys.

The machine will now boot with a cleared password and reset PRAM/NVRAM.

You can shut down the machine and replace the original RAM configuration.

For later computers if you do not know the password the only option might be to shedule a meeting with Apple Genius....

there is another way, which is far too complicated http://jerseycityrepair.com/remove-firmware-password-macbook-air/

I am not sure that Snow Leopard disk will solve your problem, as the reset password utility may require an original password to change it.

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