Mac mini issue.....

Bobsyeruncle

Bobsyeruncle

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guys,

I have a mid 2010 Mac mini, and yesterday for some strange reason it had a grey screen asking for a system password.
I have the original disks etc. using a wireless keyboard.
I've been on google and tried a few things.
Sometimes I get a grey screen with a large padlock and a box to enter a password, and sometimes I get a grey screen saying your computer is disabled, please try again in 60 minutes.

The problem is that I can't seem to boot in recovery mode, or any other mode. The grey padlock screen comes up, or I get the apple logo, and it looks like it's loading, then the disabled screen comes up.

I've tried using a wired windows keyboard as well, but still no joy.

Any suggestions before I lob it out the window? :eek:
 
I removed a ram module and was able to get into utilities so reinstalling osx just now
 
Sounds like you may have solved the problem but since you have the disks maybe worth booting from them to use the diagnostics?
 
Sounds as if it was prompting for an open firmware password. On older Macs changing the memory configuration bypasses it. On newer ones its not so easy. After checking the customers invoice/receipt I have to generate a long hex code, upload to apple, they email a file that after copying to a usb stick boots the Mac and clears the password.

The disabled message was worrying. Did you buy the Mac Mini used and if so, had you erased and reinstalled after buying it? It sounds as if it had been remotely disabled and erased. I've seen this on Macs that had been bought off eBay and brought to me at work.
 
steveb said:
Sounds as if it was prompting for an open firmware password. On older Macs changing the memory configuration bypasses it. On newer ones its not so easy. After checking the customers invoice/receipt I have to generate a long hex code, upload to apple, they email a file that after copying to a usb stick boots the Mac and clears the password.

The disabled message was worrying. Did you buy the Mac Mini used and if so, had you erased and reinstalled after buying it? It sounds as if it had been remotely disabled and erased. I've seen this on Macs that had been bought off eBay and brought to me at work.
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It was bought used about 3 years ago and this is the first time it's asked for a firmware password, even though I didn't set one up.
I erased fully and reinstalled snow leopard when I bought it
It asks for my administration password when making changes
Not sure what's caused this though
 
Most odd. If it had had an open firmware password installed when you bought it you wouldn't have been able to have booted from the Snow Leopard installer.

Hoping you had it backed up and continue to do so.
 
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