Re: HELP ! Need to get firmware passwordSOLVED

apanacci · Post by **apanacci** » Tue Dec 27, 2022 7:21 pm

Hey guys anyone heard of this. I chose Target disk for my 2017 MacBook pro. I restarted with the T button down and the computer restarted with a lock Icon. I put in my password but it would not work. I tried PRam, SMC or what ever its called to no avail. Every time that page came up with the lock. I phoned Apple support and the lady said its asking for a FIRMWARE PASSWORD. The only way was to phone where I bought the computer and get it from them. I bought it refurbished a couple of years ago. She said sometimes taking out the RAM and putting them back would help. I thought maybe wiping the drive would do it it. I am backed up. OWC has a store 5 minutes from my place with a good repair dept. Anyone out there here of this or dealt with it. Amazing what Apple does to stop you from getting into your own computer.

mothra · Post by **mothra** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:05 am

The firmware password isn't Apple's fault. They simply give you the ability to lock it down, it's the person who sold it to you's fault for doing it and not providing you with the password. Same thing if you set it yourself and forgot, it's not Apple's fault they can't retrieve the password.

Might be able to do something with Apple Configurator but I don't know if that would work with your 2017 model, think that needs one of the T2 chipped models. Do you have an Apple Store near you by chance? OWC is great, but not sure they would have that type of support help there for this situation. That might need some type of firmware reflash altogether.

mikehalloran · Post by **mikehalloran** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 8:29 am

You spoke to an idiot at Apple.

You need to set up a Firmware Password or disable it. How depends on whether your 2017 has a T1 or T2 chip.

I'm guessing T2—I don't recall the security settings on the T1 being this tight. This is done through the Repair Partition. Shut down. Boot holding the Command r keys. Go to Security Settings where you will see the various options.

If there's a Firmware Password in place and you don't know it, you will need to completely reset the T2 chip. As mentioned, you will need to run Configurator — this is done from a second Mac running High Sierra or later.

OWC can certainly do this for you. What they won't do is restore your data. If you do not have a Time Machine backup, time to create one — you will need this when they are done.

If you do have a second Mac for running Configurator, Apple can help you. You'll likely spend over an hour with the tech and then it might take many hours depending on how full your SSD is till you get a clean machine with your MacOS on it (this will install over the internet as part of the process). Then you restore from Time Machine which may take many more hours since your APFS Snapshots are erased in the process.

Unlike mechanical hard drives, TRIM and Garbage Collection need time to prepare the cells in an SSD. For this reason, the more data on your drive, the longer this takes. When Apple walked me through the process, it took over 40 hours to complete—my 4TB System drive was 97% full. Worst part—the problem that caused them to declare this as the solution didn't go away and turned out to be the CodeMeter run time that Antares uses (updating that fixed everything).

Once all is done, the Firmware Password will no longer exist. You can set it by going into the Repair Partition/Security Settings. There are many reasons for modifying those including having an external boot drive. It you do set a Firmware Password, best not forget it.

HCMarkus · Post by **HCMarkus** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 8:38 am

Nice walk through MIke. Appreciate the time you spent putting it together.

stubbsonic · Post by **stubbsonic** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 8:43 am

As with many of Mike's posts, I copy & paste it into a list of "This may come in handy some day" notes.

apanacci · Post by **apanacci** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 8:57 am

Hey Mike thanks as usual ! I tried command R and it did not work . The Apple lady said to try command r and it did not work. She did tell me to go back to where I bought it. Thanks again I will contact OWC. They are just down the street from me.

apanacci · Post by **apanacci** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 9:15 am

Yeah I am all backed. Keep you guys posted thanks !

mikehalloran · Post by **mikehalloran** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 9:25 am

Well, I definitely learned the hard way on that one. F@#$%^& CodeMeter!

Apple does have Support Docs on all this but the walkthrough is better.

BTW, as far as that second Mac goes, it can be borrowed and doesn't need a T2 chip but you will need its Admin Password and it must have Apple Configurator.app installed in the Applications Folder and be on the same network. I used my 2012 MacBook Pro.

You can also use System Information to learn whether your Mac has this chip:

Press and hold the Option key while choosing Apple menu  > System Information.
In the sidebar, select either Controller or iBridge, depending on the version of macOS in use.
If you see "Apple T2 chip" on the right, your Mac has the Apple T2 Security Chip.

I don't remember if booting into the Repair Partition on a T1 is the same or not. If not, try holding the Option key on booting — if the Repair Partition appears, select it (this cannot be done with a T2).

If, for any reason, you cannot get into the Repair Partition, even with Apple's help, plan on a complete Rebuild through Configurator.

I tried command R and it did not work .

Did it ask for the Firmware Password? It should.

If not, that was one of my symptoms.

An older version of the CodeMeter Runtime will screw all of this up—including booting into Repair. If you have it installed, make sure it's up to date. Antares (Autotune, AVOX etc.) and a few other companies use this for their license. 7.5.1 is the latest version for Mac/Win/LINUX
https://www.wibu.com/us/support/user/do ... tware.html

apanacci · Post by **apanacci** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 9:48 am

Hey Mike when I hold down command r it does ask for the Firmware password. As you know I dont have it so I cant get in. How do I hook up another machine to the 2017 ? I have my MacPros at Mojave but they are FW. I will check if I have that program Configuator.app on my other computers.

apanacci · Post by **apanacci** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 11:24 am

Going to get the pros to look at this !

mikehalloran · Post by **mikehalloran** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 11:50 am

apanacci wrote: ↑Wed Dec 28, 2022 9:48 am Hey Mike when I hold down command r it does ask for the Firmware password. As you know I dont have it so I cant get in. How do I hook up another machine to the 2017 ? I have my MacPros at Mojave but they are FW. I will check if I have that program Configuator.app on my other computers.

Must be USB-C or USB-A to USB-C (as with my 2012 MBP). TB & FW cables will not work.

https://support.apple.com/guide/apple- ... a5be51/mac

This article has more info that may include the T1

https://www.macworld.com/article/33431 ... r-mac.html

apanacci · Post by **apanacci** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 1:56 pm

Hey Mike I talked to OWC repair and he mentioned trying some random #,s for a password. Tried a bunch of things all day then I tried a password I used to use. IT WORKED !!!! I called OWC and they said when you do an update to your system I may have entered that old password just to get through the installation. The computer store where I bought it said they wipe the computer clear so they did not set a password. It was me ! Thanks again for your invaluable help. Even though I did not have to use it I learned a bunch of things. I need now to learn how to get my 2017 to show up in Target mode. I see you sent a link, thanks again !

mikehalloran · Post by **mikehalloran** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 2:56 pm

Congratulations! You dodged a bullet.

I need now to learn how to get my 2017 to show up in Target mode

If you can, here is Apple’s support bulletin.
https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-he ... lp1443/mac

If either Mac has Big Sur or later, you must use a Thunderbolt cable; otherwise use USB. If Catalina or earlier on your 2017, USB-A to USB-C. I’m assuming your MP 5.1, yes?

Apple does not say that FW can work. If it can, you’ll need to plug the FW cable into the Apple FW to TB Adapter plugged into the Apple TB2—TB3 Adapter into your 2017. I’d buy the adapters from Amazon in case it doesn’t work.

Your 2017 is formatted APFS. If the 5.1 is not, it cannot see an APFS drive.

apanacci · Post by **apanacci** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 5:42 pm

Success Mike ! Ive got the adapters and the 2017 showed up on my MacPro 2009 5.1. I did what I needed to do. Thanks again !

mikehalloran · Post by **mikehalloran** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 5:47 pm

apanacci wrote: ↑Wed Dec 28, 2022 5:42 pm Success Mike ! Ive got the adapters and the 2017 showed up on my MacPro 2009 5.1. I did what I needed to do. Thanks again !

You're welcome. Thanks for confirming that the adapters work—I suspected that they might.

I should probably buy a Lotto ticket, looks like I'm on a roll.