Forgot firmware password/wrong  boot  disk selected

Hi all, i've really screwed up, and need your help urgently. If I could just get the machine Booting fro the internal HD I'd be SO gratefull! Here goes ...
Some weeks ago, i set the firmware password on m y MacBook Pro. I set it to something complicated but memorable ... But now, of course, I can't remember it!
I've been googleing the subject, but there seems to be nothing about resetting the MB Pros Extensible Firmware.
The problem is even bigger, because I wanted to repair permissions yesterday and thus booted from the indtall dvd. I had forgotten about the EF passeord, so I set the startup disk to be the DVD drive, and now I cant get the machine to boot from its harddrive, so I have no access to my data.
I have tried to remove the 1gig ram block, that should reset the password in the old Open Firmware macs but no dice!
Im desperate because later today Im being interviewed about my mac and tech in general, and i really need my notes and stuff on the mac, plus it would be so embarrassing that iv'e set a password i cant remember - might as well cancel the interview
Is there anyway to make the MBPro boot from the harddrive again, or is there a reset button on the motherboard?
PLEASE tell me there is something I can do? I'm desperate

In comparing the 2 kinds of computers...PowerPC v. Intel, there is a difference between what the firmware lock blocks:
When turned on using one of the models listed above [Non Intel], Open Firmware Password Protection:
Blocks the ability to use the "C" key to start up from an optical 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 pressing 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 (see below).
Requires the password to enter commands after starting up in Open Firmware, which is done by pressing the Command-Option-O-F key combination during startup.
When turned on using an Intel-based Macintosh, Open Firmware Password Protection:
Blocks the ability to use the "C" key to start up from an optical 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 use the "D" key to start up from the Diagnostic volume of the Install DVD.
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 (see below).
Interestingly, command - s key combination (single user) is not stated as blocked...Maybe someone who knows how to do things at that level can help.

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    You'll need to try to remember the password.
    This thread is locked.
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  • Forgot firmware password on mac

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  • White Screen at Boot When Attempting to Access Recovery or Select a Boot Disk

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    I want to share a solution for a problem I encountered that Apple technical support was unaware of (they said they would create a new kdoc when I called them to share my problem and its solution) and for which I could find no documentation online.
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    So what solved my problem? A good 'ol reset of the NVRAM (aka/fka PRAM). If you are not familiar with how to reset the NVRAM:
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    Continue holding those four buttons down through the first startup chime and then release all four of them only after the second startup chime is sounded.
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    From within the Recovery Console, open a new Terminal session via the "Utilities" menu.
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    In the "Reset Password" application that opens, select the disk that your user home directory is on, and then click the "Reset" button at the bottom underneath the "Reset Home Folder Permissions and ACLs" heading and wait for the process to finish. Any messages displayed can typically be safely ignored. If you want to be sure, search for information regarding any messages that you do not like.
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    Which OS X is installed on your Mac ?
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  • Boot Process with active EFI Firmware Password

    I have a MacMini with Linux installed (for an embedded application) on the internal hard drive, and Mac OS X 10.5.6 available on an external Firewire / USB drive. The machine is a 1.83 MHz 2008 production unit with EFI version MM21.009A.B00 firmware installed (no later update is reported as available via the OS X Software Updater).
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    With the EFI password active, it is necessary to hold the option key down, enter the password, and then select the desired disk device icon (either internal Linux or external OS X device) in order to boot the system. It appears that the system can no longer automatically select a boot device when started up, even if only one is available. This requires that every user of the embedded system must know the EFI password in order to start the system. This seriously compromises the protections that a user would expect to achieve by using the EFI password capability.
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    Welcome to Apple Discussions!
    The EFI firmware protection is there for people who work in environments where their machines must be secure from intruders, and secures information in event the machine gets stolen. If that sort of protection is too much for your needs, just setup your security and account preferences to log out when energy saver and/or screen saver is activated, and automatic log on is disabled. That's pretty good unless a person who steals your machine or has access to your machine has the original discs which came with the Mac, or newer retail operating system (up to the limits of the machine's hardware). So consider how much security you need, and you can ask the system to be that secure.

  • Where is the "Open Firmware Password" utility on the 10.5 disk?

    Ok, I want to set the Open Firmware Password on my MacBook Pro. I'm running 10.5.2. I read that you have to get it from the 10.5 install disk but I cannot find it.
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    Everything you need to know is here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106482
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  • Hi i forgot my firmware password, need help urgent

    I suddenly got blue screen when I restarted my macbook
    tried to boot from other drive ;nothing start up with option key  nothing i forgot my password
    I have MACBOOK LATE 2009 WHITE
    HELP PLEASE THX

    If you mean your admin password:
    Forgot Your Account Password
    For Lion/Mountain Lion
        Boot to the Recovery HD:
    Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
         When the menubar appears select Terminal from the Utilities menu.
         Enter resetpassword at the prompt and press RETURN. Follow
         instructions in the dialog window that will appear.
         Or see Reset a Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Password, OS X Mountain Lion- Reset a login password, and
         OS X Lion- Apple ID can be used to reset your user account password.
    For Snow Leopard and earlier with installer DVD
         Mac OS X 10.6- If you forget your administrator password
    For Snow Leopard and earlier without installer DVD
        How to reset your Mac OS X password without an installer disc | MacYourself
    OS X Mountain Lion- If you see a blue screen at startup

  • Forgot my Firmware Password

    I created a firmware password long back..I tried to install windows few days back...windows was succesfully installed but my Mac OSX Snow Leapord got crashed..I cant boot my OSX Snow Leapord dvd because i forgot my firmware password..I gave my Notebook to an authorised service centre named ample Technologies...They told me that they cant reset the password...Right now im using windows...Using boot camp control pannel also i cant change my start up...Please tell me how to go back to mac....I dont want to use windows in my macbook pro..Its Mid 2012 series.Please give me a solution.

    You provided no OS information what-so-ever.   Search Knowledge Base.
    WARNING:  DUE TO SECURITY REASONS, PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR COMPUTER'S SERIAL NUMBER ON THESE MESSAGE BOARDS.
    I have requested that the HOST remove.
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  • Stuck on startup screen; locked firmware (password) won't allow CD Boot...?

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  • How can I enable firmware password for normal boot?

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