Unreasonable Limit on Open Firmware Passwords

Lawrence Person writes "Well, this has to be one of the stranger bugs in recent memory: 'If you used Open Firmware Password utility to create a password that contains the capital letter "U", your password will not be recognized during the startup process.' Straight from the mothership. I'm guessing that not too many people use Open Firmware Passwords, but it's a very nasty bug for those who do. Props to the always great As The Apple Turns for pointing this one out."

Comments

Re:Care to speculate?

[setzman]

Could it be the following (copied from here),

When turned on, Open Firmware Password Protection:

* blocks the ability to use the "C" key to start up from a CD-ROM disc.
* blocks the ability to use the "N" key to start up from a NetBoot server.
* blocks the ability to use the "T" key to start up in Target Disk Mode (on computers that offer this feature).
* blocks the ability to start up in Verbose mode by pressing the Command-V key combination during startup.
* block the ability to start up a system in Single-user mode by depressing the Command-S key combination during startup.
* blocks a reset of Parameter RAM (PRAM) by pressing the Command-Option-P-R key combination during startup.
* requires the password to use the Startup Manager, accessed by pressing the Option key during startup (Figure 1).
* requires the password to enter commands after starting up in Open Firmware, which is done by depressing the Command-Option-O-F key combination during startup.

Doesn't mention the U key in the features list, but I'm going speculate that something in the keyboard handling code is buggy...

Re:The solution would be

[coolmacdude]

Why was my post modded overrated? I'm serious. All you have to do is take out or install new ram, (basically just change the amount of ram in the machine) and then reset the PRAM 3 times. That clears the Open Firmware password.

Re:Speculation

[Mikey-San]

Ask and ye shall receive.

http://www.securemac.com/openfirmwarepasswordpro te ction.php