[MacTUG] mid-2011 imac and firmware password issue and DeployStudio

[Ian Turner]

well, I'm eating my words

Ed actually made the "normal" process work, I can only think of one step 
I missed

insert the install disk
option+boot
enter the firmware password
continue
Utilities
Firmware password Utility
set or unset as required
enter the old password
click "quit firmware password utility"
** next, the apparent step I missed - thinking it was "done" and I could 
just reboot now

- quit Mac OSX Installer
- click "restart"

*******

and Thanks and apologies to Dale Kentner at campus Tech for getting onto 
his Apple Support and finding all the magic required if you really have 
forgotten your firmware password - which luckily we do not need now!!!


On 2011/09/07 10:14 , Ian Turner wrote:
> http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3554
>
> ... "Symptoms
>
> Learn what to do if you no longer remember the firmware password that
> you've set or if you see a password dialog when you try to select a
> startup volume on a MacBook Air (Late 2010) and later, MacBook Pro
> (Early 2011), iMac (Mid 2011) and later, and Mac mini (Mid 2011) computer.
> Products Affected
>
> MacBook Air (Late 2010), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011), MacBook Pro
> (15-inch, Early 2011), iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2011), MacBook Pro
> (13-inch, Early 2011), MacBook Air (Mid 2011), iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011),
> iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011), Mac mini (Mid 2011)
> Resolution
>
> Only Apple retail stores or Apple Authorized Service Providers can
> unlock these computers protected by a firmware password." ...
>
> ***************
>
> it appears to be broader than that
> We use a step in the workflow in DeployStudio to set our firmware password
>
> That works, once ONLY
>
> If we have to re-image a machine, the workflow hangs at that point, and
> when terminated, of course we get a corrupt, unbootable image
>
> Unfortunately, there is a new (to me) firmware password utility on the
> system disk, which DOESN'T work:
> it offers 2 options, one to "not use a password" - that fails. even when
> you DO know the old password
>
> another to change the password, but it will not let you "change it to
> nothing" like the old one used to do
>
>
> I also tried
> http://www.securemac.com/openfirmwarepasswordprotection.php
> - booting into Open Firmware - appears to be not possible, once the
> password is set
> - pulling memory, and trying to do PRAM reset - appears to be not
> possible, once the password is set
>
> ********************
>
> So, does CampusTech, or IST "have the magic tool" so we don't have to
> take, eventually 200+ macs to the Apple store?
>
> Anyone found a reliable way to make anything else work???
>
> Ian
>