Level 1

30 points

Trying to reload snow leopard on Mac Pro A1186 \

Hey guys, this 2008 or so model unit has yosemite on it but the owner was messing around with the password and now can't get it so I am trying to reload SL on it. Following the usual instructions of holding down the C key after the chime is not working and it's booting straight to the user accounts page. I have the SL Disc inside an attached external USB Optical drive and I am using my regular windows keyboard and mouse on this desktop. I tried restarting holding Alt key, doesn't work. I tried restarting the Command [windows key] and R keys pressing the windows and R keys is showing a screen as in the attached pic, guess it's looking for the password, help please?

Posted on Dec 14, 2015 5:40 AM

24 replies

lllaass

Level 10

210,519 points

Dec 15, 2015 1:25 AM in response to mikehende

What specific disk do yo have?

The disk drive may not be working. Do you have a USB external optical drive?

Another disk?

mikehende Author

Level 1

30 points

Dec 15, 2015 2:54 AM in response to lllaass

I am using an original snow leopard disk I had purchased directly from Apple some years ago. This machine does not have an option drive so I am using an external usb dvd drive, the drive is working fine so that's not the issue.

lllaass

Level 10

210,519 points

Dec 15, 2015 7:34 AM in response to mikehende

Does the spinning and nothing happening occur when you shutdown the Mac, insert the DVD and then boot with the Option key depressed?

mikehende Author

Level 1

30 points

Dec 15, 2015 7:48 AM in response to lllaass

Yes, I tried all the different keyborad options as mentioned in the earlier parts of this thread. Also tried resetting the pram as per the instructions by removing and reinstalling the battery and ram boards, nothing works.

Dec 15, 2015 8:12 AM in response to mikehende

Do you know and trust the original owner?

lllaass

Level 10

210,519 points

Dec 15, 2015 8:15 AM in response to mikehende

So if your boot with the SL DVD in a connected USB optical drive with the Option key depressed noting happens?

mikehende Author

Level 1

30 points

Dec 15, 2015 8:15 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

He's a person who came to me just like any other customer, I will never know 100% who is bringing their own machines to me or if anything they are saying is the truth.

Dec 16, 2015 3:37 AM in response to mikehende

For additional protection, you can also set a firmware password on your Mac. A firmware password prevents your Mac from starting up from any device other than your designated startup disk.

You can set a firmware password on these Macs:

MacBook Air (Late 2010 and later)

MacBook Pro (Early 2011 and later)

MacBook Pro with Retina display (all models)

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)

iMac (Mid 2011 and later)

Mac mini (Mid 2011 and later)

Mac Pro (Late 2013)

from:

Use a firmware password on your Mac - Apple Support

the next item in my search was an article with one more suggestion before you head to the genius bar:

http://osxdaily.com/2015/01/28/forgot-mac-firmware-password-what-now/

lllaass

Level 10

210,519 points

Dec 16, 2015 3:36 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

You can also set a firmware PW on earlier models but just changing the hardware configuration with rest that PW

http://osxdaily.com/2009/10/19/bypass-mac-firmware-password/

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Trying to reload snow leopard on Mac Pro A1186 \