I have a Macbook air 10.9.4
I want to reset it to the factory settings. I do not know the admin password though. I tried doing to holding down command and R thing, but all that happened was a grey screen came up with a picture of a lock, and a block for a password to be entered in, but I don't have a password.... Please Help!!
MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4), Reset/ Password
A system disk is not of any help in clearing a firmware password lock. As indicated, an authorized Apple Service Provider or a Genius Bar at an Apple Store is the prescribed remedy. It might be very helpful beforehand if the ownership issue is clear first, by at least having it "released" by the seller on his support profile.
No, the computer is not registered to me. I bought it used from an individual today. Him and his wife are trying to locate the firmware password, but as of yet have been unsuccessful.
What are my options being that the computer is not registered to me? Why would apple care if it was registered to me or not, wouldn't the serial number be reported as stolen if the computer in fact had been stolen?
It depends on the person, I suppose. But ordinarily Apple is pretty supportive of authorized persons only having access to a laptop's contents when the owner has set a firmware password.
One has to understand that a firmware password's purpose is to protect. It would serve no purpose if anyone could simply ask that the protection be removed. The service to remove the protection is a benefit only afforded to legitimate owners.
The seller should have released his registration the moment it was sold. This permits YOU to then register it to yourself. You should take care of this matter before taking it in.
Ok, so what are my options then?
1. Return the laptop
2. Bring the owner with me to the Apple store
3. Throw the computer away if option 1 or 2 isn't possible
Side note, how do they know the actual name of the original owner anyways? On my macbook pro I have I bought it new from Bestbuy, so how would apple have my name?
Personally, I am in favor of the policy surrounding the reset of the firmware password. It gives me a semblance of peace of mind that if someone steals my firmware password protected Mac, that just "anyone' could easily have the protection removed, and have access to my stored information.
If you have a legitimate sale here, then you might try to show some "proof" of your ownership, if the seller is unavailable now to release the registration from his user profile.
Does apple have an actual policy regarding this matter? What constitues proof of ownership? I don't want to schedule an appointment at the Genius Bar just to waste my time. As of now I have apple calling me tomorrow afternoon in hopes they'll give me a definite answer.
Maybe you should just call the Apple store first, explain your issue and the circumstances under which it was acquired and they can give you an answer on what they might expect from you. Maybe they will simply accept your word. It would worry a few of us, if they do. Let us know.
Their written policy only says: "Only Apple Retail Stores or Apple Authorized Service Providers can unlock computers protected by a firmware password."
It only makes sense, so that unauthorized users can't do it themselves.
Ok, waiting on Apple to call me this evening.
The seller just texted me an said that he found the OS X install disk this morning. He said installing that will reset everything.
Question though, since the air doesn't have a disk drive, didn't it not come with a disk? If he does have a disk would it reset everything even though theres a firmware password?
Take it to an Apple Genius Bar to have the "hardware" lock removed. Only the OS admin password can be reset by the user.
From what Ive read its because theres a firmware password on the computer. So if I take it to the genius bar they will erase everything? Does it cost anything?
No, nothing should be lost.
This Mac is registered to you, right?
The idea behind making the firmware password only removable by Apple, is partly to make stolen Macs less usable by a thief.
The seller should update his user profile and remove the Air from his list of owned products.
Factory Reset without Admin Password, MACbook Air
