The OSX/Apple support thread

Author
Discussion

Tonsko

6,299 posts

214 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
marshalla said:
Just a thought, but since the volume is already mounted, shouldn't the command be

 /sbin/mount -o remount,w / 



?

(i.e. remount the already mounted filesystem and make it writeable.)
In theory, the u switch should do that. https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentat...

I think we might be flogging a dead horse here for Scars frown

ReaderScars

6,087 posts

175 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
marshalla said:
Just a thought, but since the volume is already mounted, shouldn't the command be

 /sbin/mount -o remount,w / 



?

(i.e. remount the already mounted filesystem and make it writeable.)
OK, this brings up something slightly different:


Tonsko

6,299 posts

214 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
Interesting!

You don't have a disk. Would the process be the same with the recovery partition?

That option isn't even listed on the man command page Andrew! Good knowledge smile

ReaderScars

6,087 posts

175 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
By the way, thanks Tonsko for the time you've taken to make various suggestions and explanations, I very much appreciate it! beer

ReaderScars

6,087 posts

175 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
ReaderScars said:
marshalla said:
Just a thought, but since the volume is already mounted, shouldn't the command be

 /sbin/mount -o remount,w / 



?

(i.e. remount the already mounted filesystem and make it writeable.)
OK, this brings up something slightly different:

Given the outcome of your suggestion Marshalla, I'll revisit the apple reseller I visited yesterday to see if he can boot from the USB device he tried to yesterday. If not I've got an appointment at the apple genius bar on Sunday.

qube_TA

8,402 posts

244 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
I don't suppose you back up your passwords and whatnot to your iCloud keychain?

Might be able to obtain the unlock key by logging into your account from another Mac.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT202385

Depends which version of filevault the drive was encrypted with.

Tonsko

6,299 posts

214 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
You're welcome. I've learned some things, so its all gravy. Was just googling really!

ReaderScars

6,087 posts

175 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
qube_TA said:
I don't suppose you back up your passwords and whatnot to your iCloud keychain?

Might be able to obtain the unlock key by logging into your account from another Mac.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT202385

Depends which version of filevault the drive was encrypted with.
Not really sure to be honest, I don't remember selecting it as an option. I had hoped that the Apple store guys would have advised me on my first visit after I gave them my ID etc.

marshalla

15,902 posts

200 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
Tonsko said:
Interesting!

You don't have a disk. Would the process be the same with the recovery partition?

That option isn't even listed on the man command page Andrew! Good knowledge smile
Andrew ?!?!?!?

It's the "normal" unix way of doing it. At least - it's worked on every version of unix that I've touched in the last 30+ years wink

From the response, it looks like OSX is intercepting commands to prevent whoever has physical access to the machine from doing resets.

It that situation, I'd be looking into pulling the drive, mounting it on another machine and being clever with "chroot" to change passwords (do not try this if you don't know what chroot does because there are several steps to follow after it) or an editor to wipe out the entries in the password file (do not try this if you don't know which files are involved and what their contents should look like).

The suggestion of going back to the reseller and booting from an external recovery disc sounds the most sensible at this stage.

Tonsko

6,299 posts

214 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
marshalla said:
Andrew ?!?!?!?
Assumptions suck. Sorry. Marshalla sounded so formal.

qube_TA

8,402 posts

244 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
ReaderScars said:
qube_TA said:
I don't suppose you back up your passwords and whatnot to your iCloud keychain?

Might be able to obtain the unlock key by logging into your account from another Mac.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT202385

Depends which version of filevault the drive was encrypted with.
Not really sure to be honest, I don't remember selecting it as an option. I had hoped that the Apple store guys would have advised me on my first visit after I gave them my ID etc.
Apple can't break into it, they made a press release stating that there are no back doors or any workarounds for the encryption they use on their devices.

If it's locked and you've no backup, and you've not stored your keys anywhere then it's a re-install.



ReaderScars

6,087 posts

175 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
qube_TA said:
Apple can't break into it, they made a press release stating that there are no back doors or any workarounds for the encryption they use on their devices.

If it's locked and you've no backup, and you've not stored your keys anywhere then it's a re-install.
Yep, I know that's highly likely - before reformatting though, I want to have some variations of the passphrase brute forced seeing as I have a clear idea of what the phrase is supposed to be (although I've already spent days trying this).

In addition I'd like to hear from apple techs that it's game over, or if they can force the disk to mount or something.

I appreciate your input though, as well as the help that everyone's offered.

qube_TA

8,402 posts

244 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
ReaderScars said:
qube_TA said:
Apple can't break into it, they made a press release stating that there are no back doors or any workarounds for the encryption they use on their devices.

If it's locked and you've no backup, and you've not stored your keys anywhere then it's a re-install.
Yep, I know that's highly likely - before reformatting though, I want to have some variations of the passphrase brute forced seeing as I have a clear idea of what the phrase is supposed to be (although I've already spent days trying this).

In addition I'd like to hear from apple techs that it's game over, or if they can force the disk to mount or something.

I appreciate your input though, as well as the help that everyone's offered.
Brute force could work I guess as there isn't an OS running to lock you out after 3 bad attempts.



poprock

1,984 posts

200 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
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Here’s a somewhat specialised problem for you guys to get your heads around – let’s see if anyone can help.

I’m having trouble with the Bluetooth connection to my wireless keyboard and magic trackpad. Since setting up my Mac Mini in a media cupboard after moving house, the keyboard/trackpad signal is very poor. Cuts out, stutters, etc.

I know this could be the placement of the Mac, or could feasibly be interference from a USB3 external hard drive placed nearby. Neither of these caused issues at my old house, mind you.

Regardless, my solution is to run a USB extension cable out into the living room (taped to the underside of the TV stand) and attach a USB Bluetooth dongle to the end.

I know enough to download and use Apple’s Bluetooth Explorer app from the OS X Developer Tools to let me switch from the Mac’s internal Bluetooth to the new external one. So far so good.

But now, after making the switch, I can’t get it to pair with the keyboard and trackpad. Not at all.

Any ideas? Could it be that the new Bluetooth dongle is only Bluetooth 2.0 spec? Should I buy a 4.0 one instead and try that?

qube_TA

8,402 posts

244 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
what model BT dongle have you bought?


poprock

1,984 posts

200 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
It’s a cheap one from Maplin. Supports BT 2.0.

I’m wondering whether trying a Belkin BT 4.0 dongle would make a difference.

qube_TA

8,402 posts

244 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
poprock said:
It’s a cheap one from Maplin. Supports BT 2.0.

I’m wondering whether trying a Belkin BT 4.0 dongle would make a difference.
The keyboards are BT2.0 but a 4.0 adaptor will work with it.

Maybe your extension lead is affecting the power going to the dongle, does it work OK if you don't use it and just try direct?



poprock

1,984 posts

200 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
Hmmm. That’s worth testing. I’ll try it tonight, ta.

If the USB extension lead is the problem (admittedly it was a super-cheap cable), is my next step then to buy a posher one?

qube_TA

8,402 posts

244 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
poprock said:
Hmmm. That’s worth testing. I’ll try it tonight, ta.

If the USB extension lead is the problem (admittedly it was a super-cheap cable), is my next step then to buy a posher one?
Could be a plan.



poprock

1,984 posts

200 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
I’m getting nowhere with the Bluetooth thing, unfortunately.

Tried a different (Bluetooth 4.0) USB dongle. Tried both dongles connected directly to the Mac. Tried them both on a USB extension. I can’t get either of them to pair with the keyboard and trackpad.

Unplug the dongle and the Mac switches back to its internal Bluetooth chip and immediately recognises the keyboard and trackpad. But the signal is too weak and control is poor.

Very frustrating!