MP 7,1 Apple locked my Mac Pro

[andyherman]

I upgraded to Big Sur from Catalina and hated it. I decided to roll back to Catalina using Time Machine. Logged into Time Machine through Command - R startup, selected a backup with Catalina and proceeded with the install.

Much to my dismay, when the install was finished, all I got was a blank screen with a spinning globe, then a blank screen with a circle that had a slash through it. Searched the net and found out the computer has been "Activation Locked" by Apple. The only way to unlock the computer is to enter my Apple ID and password. I'd changed my password some time ago and forgot it. Naturally, after several attempts my ID was Locked. To unlock it apple either has to have an email sent to me or I have to answer the security questions. However, the I closed email linked to my Apple ID a couple of months ago and when I try to re-open the account MS says it's in use. If I try to log onto the account MS says "No account found"?

The security questions are absurd since if I log onto my 2009 Mac Pro it asks a different set of questions than if I log onto my MacBook Pro and I have never answered ANY security questions that I can recall (note that I got my first apple computer back around 2006 - @ 16 years ago) so no way I would remember those security questions even if I had set them up (I don't typically use the Apple Store for software. When I first set up my Apple ID you didn't have to enter a credit card. Later Apple changed that and REQUIRED the addition of a credit card, which I refused to do. I set up a new Apple ID last week and now they give you the option to select "None" for the credit card.)

Spent literally hours with Apple tech to no avail. One rep told me that after 24 hours my Apple ID would be unlocked. I tried logging on after 24 hours and it was still locked. Spoke with another tech and they said the ID WOULD NOT be unlocked automatically after 24 hours. The only way to unlock was via email or answering the security questions.

Ultimately, another rep said I would have to submit a ticket to Apple to have my computer unlocked, including a copy of my purchase Invoice, WHICH I DID LAST THURSDAY, the 19th. As of today, May 25 I HAVE NOT HEARD SQUAT FROM Apple!

I spent $6,500.00 on this dam Mac Pro and it's now just a BIG paperweight.

If the idiots at apple ever get back to me so I can unlock MY COMPUTER, I'm going to SELL IT and use my HP Workstations.

If Microsoft ever did anything like this there would be holy hell to pay, but apparently Apple can do whatever the hell they want WITH OUR EQUIPMENT!

Apple's email to me -

Hi, Thank you for contacting Apple. Your Apple Support case number is 101_______31. Please keep this for your records. We'll review your request and contact you with updates. Thanks, Apple

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

TLDR for others, the OP locked their account out after repeatedly failed password attempts and now blames Apple.

 

[andyherman]

I blame Apple for taking their sweet ass time to unlock MY COMPUTER I PAID FOR!

 

[tsialex]

I blame Apple for taking their sweet ass time to unlock MY COMPUTER I PAID FOR!

So, You did several mistakes in sequence that triggered Apple security verification and now it's Apple's fault? Think from the other side, what you did is basically what someone that stolen a iPhone/Mac would do to try to activate a locked device.

You can even blame Apple for not being super helpful/fast enough to verify your documentation once you provided it/or even to keep you fully informed, but you have to own that you did all the mistakes yourself and just tolerate it since Apple have to validate everything/do the due diligence.

 

[m1maverick]

TLDR for others, the OP locked their account out after repeatedly failed password attempts and now blames Apple.

Maybe I am misunderstanding but it appears as if his computer is locked.

 

[MarkC426]

Maybe I am misunderstanding but it appears as if his computer is locked.

Yes, as mentioned in threads above.
Much like an iphone/ipad....if you enter codes wrong so many times it's locked to prevent a stolen item being used.

 

[m1maverick]

Yes, as mentioned in threads above.
Much like an iphone/ipad....if you enter codes wrong so many times it's locked to prevent a stolen item being used.

A Mac Pro is not an iPhone / iPad. Likewise it doesn't appear that he entered anything prior to the computer being locked. It appears to have been activation locked due to something that happened with his restoring a Time Machine backup to an older version of macOS.

 

[MuGeN PoWeR]

A Mac Pro is not an iPhone / iPad. Likewise it doesn't appear that he entered anything prior to the computer being locked. It appears to have been activation locked due to something that happened with his restoring a Time Machine backup to an older version of macOS.

do you think its possible that the computer would lock just by restoring a time machine backup? I dont think so!

 

[laptech]

flashing circle with line through it has nothing to do with activation lock

If your Mac starts up to a circle with a line through it – Apple Support (UK)

A circle with a line through it means that your startup disk contains a Mac operating system, but it's not a macOS that your Mac can use.

support.apple.com

Flashing Circle with line through it and apple logo when booting - MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2012

After booting up my Mac, I get a circle with a line through it and every 10 seconds the circle gets replaced with the apple logo and quickly changed back to the circle again. Let the machine sit for a few minutes and still won't boot - MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2012

www.ifixit.com

Something does not fit right with the OP's explanation.

 

[m1maverick]

do you think its possible that the computer would lock just by restoring a time machine backup? I dont think so!

I've never encountered such a situation. That said why does he need to log into his Apple account in order to unlock his Mac? Are you saying it's a macOS password and merely reinstalling the OS will resolve the issue?

 

[goMac]

Much to my dismay, when the install was finished, all I got was a blank screen with a spinning globe, then a blank screen with a circle that had a slash through it. Searched the net and found out the computer has been "Activation Locked" by Apple.

As others have said, this is not what the circle with a slash means. Because of that - I'm not actually sure you are activation locked. An activation lock will put text on the screen telling you that you are activation locked. A circle with a slash means it can't find a macOS installation. If you're not seeing text specifically telling you that you are activation locked, I don't think you are.

You've made several wrong turns in your diagnosis already so it might just be best to back up and take it to an Apple Store. I'm not sure this thread is going to be able to help you.

 

[MarkC426]

It is probably related to the T2 chip.

Apple has designed secure boot to protect the lowest levels of software against tampering and to allow only trusted operating system software from Apple to load at startup. Secure boot begins in immutable code called the Boot ROM, which is laid down during Apple SoC fabrication and is known as the hardware root of trust. On Mac computers with a T2 chip, trust for macOS secure boot begins with the T2. (Both the T2 chip and the Secure Enclave also execute their own secure boot processes using their own separate boot ROM—this is an exact analogue to how the A-series and M1 family of chips boot securely.)

 

[goMac]

Grabbing this image from Twitter, but this is what an activation lock looks like. If you are not seeing this screen, you are not activation locked. This is what an activation lock looks like, not a circle with a slash.

 

[fc4090]

I got was a blank screen with a spinning globe, then a blank screen with a circle that had a slash through it. Searched the net and found out the computer has been "Activation Locked" by Apple.

Why not try creating a new Apple ID (at https://www.icloud.com/) and then try installing a default MacOS for your MacPro. Once that's done, and you have a running system, you can proceed towards restoring from your backup, upgrade etc.

 

[rpmurray]

As a wise man once said, "The T2 chip is a bag of hurt."

 

[goMac]

As a wise man once said, "The T2 chip is a bag of hurt."

If he's seeing the circle with a slash, it's not T2 either. Circle with a slash is "no macOS installation." I'm not sure what process he went through with Time Machine, but Time Machine doesn't always store a working macOS installation in it's backups.

T2 problem is generally "your screen won't turn on."

 

[rpmurray]

Grabbing this image from Twitter, but this is what an activation lock looks like. If you are not seeing this screen, you are not activation locked. This is what an activation lock looks like, not a circle with a slash.

View attachment 2009526

Come to think on it, activation lock can only occur if you have Find My Mac turned on for the Mac.

 

[MuGeN PoWeR]

I've never encountered such a situation. That said why does he need to log into his Apple account in order to unlock his Mac? Are you saying it's a macOS password and merely reinstalling the OS will resolve the issue?

I think its his Apple ID which he needs to enter the ceredentials for as one of the fellow member has shared the screenshot.

 

[m1maverick]

I think its his Apple ID which he needs to enter the ceredentials for as one of the fellow member has shared the screenshot.

I read it as two parts:

1. His Mac was activation locked after the "failed" Time Machine restore.
2. He is unable to log into his Apple account for a myriad of reasons.

With the subsequent discussion it appears his Mac is not activation locked.

 

[Freeangel1]

Time to revolt and build a hackintosh. Then you get PCIe 5.0 with screaming write speeds of 13,000. more than twice that of an M1 Chip.

Plus your Mac is totally repairable and upgradable.

 

[MauiPa]

Is it just me that thinks this one was locked by your actions not Apple’s doing? That said. Take a few breaths, I’m sure it can be unlocked, seriously, forgot your passwords and that is not your fault?

 

[jagolden]

A Mac Pro is not an iPhone / iPad. Likewise it doesn't appear that he entered anything prior to the computer being locked. It appears to have been activation locked due to something that happened with his restoring a Time Machine backup to an older version of macOS.

From his post, it sounds like he could have unlocked it with his Apple ID and password. However he “changed it” a short while ago then “forgot” what they are.
“Forgot”?! He doesn’t use a password vault app across devices or even a lowly, hand-written little book?
I can’t stress enough doing this. Even passwords you think you’ll never forget can easily be forgotten with the myriad of passwords pretty much all folks have.
This will be a tough one to fix and I also don’t believe its completely Apples fault.

 

[MisterAndrew]

The OP's story doesn't add up at all to me. It's not the kind of scenario that would likely happen with someone who purchased a 7,1. I agree with goMac that the computer should be taken to the Apple store.

 

[McScooby]

I’m a bit slow just now, but do you not have to have a Mac OS installed before you can run a Time Machine backup reinstall, i.e don’t just wipe the drive on the mac & then try it, but reinstall the OS before it pulls the deets across? I’m guessing that the activation thing is probably an encrypted back up which needs a password, though not necessarily your Apple ID.

 

[nathan_reilly]

if you bought it on the 19th, aren't you in the 2 week return window?

*edit* I also gotta add that this is entirely on you, friend. I like your click baity title but it is not the truth of the situation here. I think you've learned a couple lessons by this one, eh?