Reset Open Firmware Password

Welcome to Discussions - the first LINK explains how to enable Open Firmware, and also how to bypass it. The second LINK deals with changing passwords. Both, taken together, should help solve your problem. As far as resetting the PRAM is concerned, you don't need to remove the RAM, you just need to
1. Shut down the computer.
2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
6. Release the keys.

Let us
know how you make out,

Miriam

Sorry but the process described at the bottom will not disable the open firmware password.

If you notice, step 4 of the process at the bottom is " When prompted for your password, enter it and press the Return key."

Since the OP has had the computer since 2004, he most likely has established an Administrator's password, which is the one referred to in step 4, I think. If he hasn't, how was he able to install updates?

Miriam

I found this, which might solve your problem:




Force Removal of Password Protection

If you forget your password, or if a user has enabled it on a lab Mac and you need to remove it, follow these steps. First, add or remove DIMMs to change the total amount of RAM in the Macintosh. This modification will remove the block on the keyboard combination for resetting the PRAM and NVRAM.

Note, merely moving RAM to another slot will NOT work. Other documentation incorrectly states that modifying RAM removes password protection, but it actually only enables the keyboard combination for resetting PRAM, which is normally blocked with the command security mode. Resetting the PRAM actually removes the password protection.

Follow the steps below to reset the PRAM and NVRAM:

(1)
Shut down the Macintosh.

(2)
Press the power button to turn the computer on. You will hear the Macintosh's startup sound.

(3)


Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.


(4)
Hold the keys down until the Macintosh restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.

(5)
Release the keys and let the Macintosh startup normally.

Now, the password protection should be removed from the Mac.

Please let us know if this works,

Miriam

OK, let me get this straight - you have removed one of the RAM sticks, then tried to reset the PRAM and you don't get any of the expected chimes, just a spinning wheel? And now all you get is open firmware when you boot? Do you have either an external drive or another Mac that you could perhaps put in Target Disk Mode and try to boot that way?

Miriam

Can we go back a bit - why did you need the OF password? What precipitated this? You've had the computer for several years without needing it, what happened?

Miriam

...he most likely has established an Administrator's password, which is the one referred to in step 4, I think.

No, the process is referring to the open firmware password.

OS X isn't running when you follow that process therefore the OS X password isn't applicable.

semp: I went back and looked at your original post, and it seems that updating to 10.4.9 did it. Unless you can find some way to revert to 10.4.8 I can't really think of a solution. If you are anywhere near an Apple or Authorised repair place, perhaps you could take it in and they could do something - removing the HD is one solution that springs to mind.

Miriam

Thanks for posting back, I guess it was one of those things the computer gods send to try us.

Miriam