This 15" MacBook Pro mid-2014 was DELIBERATELY bricked by my son's disgruntled girlfriend putting a random, and forgotten, BIOS password on it. We don't have proof of purchase and cannot get it. Are there any other fixes? I've heard that there's a hardware fix?
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The only way is to remove the firmware chip and re-burn it with a clean image and remount it.
This is quite advanced as you need good micro soldering skills and access to a ROM burner and a clean image file and have the skills to edit the image with the systems S/N otherwise any software which is keyed to it will fail.
It might be cheaper getting a replacement system (used - the same model) then you can just swap over the SSD drive and be back in business (that is if the files are intact and not encrypted.
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I do wonder what Apple would do, if I could ever convince them to do it. I can't see their techs doing that level of work. Maybe that's why they make you jump through so many hoops.
@vwalton Apple themselves have access to tools/applications that removes the need to physically remove and reflash the ROM.
Maybe you could just get a replacement SSD and get an external enclosure? https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/...
@vwalton & @geirandersen - In this case they won’t even try as this is no longer a supported system 😞
And if you can’t prove you are the true owner forget it!
@danj Indeed! I’ve even heard horror stories from users that had physical proof (digital and original receipt) and Apple tried stalling 🤔 BTW @danj, why did you remove your cool avatar?
@andrewsawesome, new disk & enclosure won’t do anything as the firmware is locked on hardware level (ROM) on the logic board.
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3 Comments
Shut down your mac. Now power up your Mac and immediately start holding the Command and R keys. Do you see anything on the screen?
by Andrew S
Yes, I see the firmware password prompt. That's the problem.
by Vic Walton
@vwalton Have you tried putting in your user password at the prompt?
by Andrew S