Text 54129, 48 rader
Skriven 2009-03-16 14:30:01 av Charles Scaglione (1:123/789.0)
  Kommentar till text 54118 av Jean Parrot (1:123/789.0)
Ärende: No password, no access...
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Jean Parrot -> Charles Scaglione wrote:

Hi Jean:

 CS>> Don't misunderstand.  I have my Mac password protected in the normal
 CS>> way.  IOW, use a password to log on to my account.  However, I was
 CS>> referring to a firmware password which when used locks everything:
 JP> HDD,
 CS>> DVDR, etc.  Even swapping out the HDD for a new one is virtually
 CS>> impossible if you forget that password.  And, Apple will not tell you
 CS>> how to get around it.

 JP>     Is this different on a Mac as on any other ATA HD ? Do you know if
 JP> this PW can be "erased" by pulling the BIOS battery for a short length
 JP> of time as we can on a PC ? T'is no protection !

I wondered about that too.  Pulling the battery or shorting it out may erase
it??  Alan also asked me about zapping the PRAM on an Intel Mac, whether that
would erase any firmware password stored.  Again I don't know.

I do know that several questions were asked in the Apple forum about the same
thing.  When referred to Apple support they refused to say how to bypass the
password.  As you probably know, notebook computer theft is rather high at
universities.  Mac notebooks are especially targeted according to what I read.

 JP>     On the LG, it needs the two PWs to boot, the Thinkpads only need the
 JP> one even if two are set, the boot PW and the HD PW. This way, nobody
 JP> could profit and sell a Thinkpad, no boot at all and even if the HD is
 JP> replaced.

Mac computers operate more or less the same.  One password to log on, another
(firmware password if set) to boot the machine from the DVD, change out the
hard drive, or optical drive.

 JP>     I find that IBM behaves the same as Apple in this regards. They
 JP> could ascertain the lawful request for a Master PW but it would entail
 JP> too much expensive effort on their part. So they let it ride after the
 JP> proper warnings, Caveat emptor !

The reason Apple refuses to say how to bypass the password is obvious. However,
if you take the machine in to Apple for repair and legal proof of ownership is
presented to them, they will remove the firmware password for you.  Of course
you may not like their minimum charge but you would have no other choice.... :(

Regards.

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