My mac crashed, and has a firmware password on it and I do know it. What options do I have after I have entered the password to try and restart it safely? If I do not hold option to get to the firmware prompt, I have a blinking file with a question mark.

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My mac crashed, and has a firmware password on it and I do know it. What options do I have after I have entered the password to try and restart it safely? If I do not hold option to get to the firmware prompt, I have a blinking file with a question mark.

What options at all do I have from this point forward?

The laptop was transfered to me from my school, and I never worried to take the password off, but luckily I know what it is!

I have a lot of information on it that I need, but I cannot access or do not know how to access beyond the firmware password!

Please help!

I do not know if it matters, but I also updated the ram and was not able to reset after it crashed. Basically I installed, didn't get to reset and it crashed. I have original RAM sticks if need be.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Jan 22, 2014 2:31 PM

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Answer 1

Klaus1

Level 9

52,879 points

Jan 22, 2014 3:22 PM in response to Bennyp87

Resetting or changing a password:

For Snow Leopard or earlier: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274

For Lion or later: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6022

This is also useful:

http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipad-iphone/news/?newsid=3463233&olo=email

If it's running Mac OS X 10.6.8 or earlier, insert a Mac OS X install DVD, restart with the Option key held down, click on it, and use the Reset Password utility.

If it's running Mac OS X 10.7 or newer, restart with the Command and R keys held down, open the Terminal, and use the resetpassword command:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4101

If the computer has a firmware password set, contact Apple.

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