Reset password after losing power during a decade old MacBook Pro (MBP) boot up after entering a password for its internal HDD?

[Ant]

Hello.

Here's a weird one. I don't know if this is by design. I was booting up
a 2008's 15" MacBook Pro. I already entered its HDD's FileVault password
to slowly boot up its updated Mac OS X El Capitan v10.11.6. And then, I
accidently pulled its mag power plug from MBP and the system shut down
(sleep?) due to lack of power (still using the original battery -- never
replaced any hardwares on it since it is rarely used).

After replugging its power plug back in and turning it back on, it did
its usual slow boot up but it never asked me to enter my password to
access its encrypted HDD. Instead it took me to its password reset
screen with three prompts. Huh? I never asked for that.

Was that supposed to happen?
--
Quote of the Week: "I grew up in airports and on air bases. I know what
flying and airports can be. And most airports make me feel like we're
about three per cent better than ants. Especially U.S. airports. They're
zoos. All civility is gone." --Douglas Coupland
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[Jolly Roger]

Post by Ant
Hello.
Here's a weird one. I don't know if this is by design. I was booting up
a 2008's 15" MacBook Pro. I already entered its HDD's FileVault password
to slowly boot up its updated Mac OS X El Capitan v10.11.6. And then, I
accidently pulled its mag power plug from MBP and the system shut down
(sleep?) due to lack of power (still using the original battery -- never
replaced any hardwares on it since it is rarely used).

That battery should probably be replaced pronto.

Post by Ant
After replugging its power plug back in and turning it back on, it did
its usual slow boot up but it never asked me to enter my password to
access its encrypted HDD. Instead it took me to its password reset
screen with three prompts. Huh? I never asked for that.
Was that supposed to happen?

You mean this screen?:

<Loading Image...>

That's normally what you see when you let the computer sit at the
FileVault password entry screen for a while, and the computer guesses
that you may have forgotten the password to FileVault. It tells you that
you can hold the power button to shit down, then press the power button
again to boot up into macOS Recovery, where you see this screen. So
apparently your computer booted into macOS Recovery due to losing power.

I haven't ever arrived there by accident, but I suspect you can just
shut it down and boot it up again to get back to the normal boot
sequence.

[Ant]

Post by Jolly Roger

Post by Ant
Hello.
Here's a weird one. I don't know if this is by design. I was booting up
a 2008's 15" MacBook Pro. I already entered its HDD's FileVault password
to slowly boot up its updated Mac OS X El Capitan v10.11.6. And then, I
accidently pulled its mag power plug from MBP and the system shut down
(sleep?) due to lack of power (still using the original battery -- never
replaced any hardwares on it since it is rarely used).

That battery should probably be replaced pronto.

Why? Is it bad? Will it blow up? This MBP is rarely used since it is
very slow and old. :/

Post by Jolly Roger

Post by Ant
After replugging its power plug back in and turning it back on, it did
its usual slow boot up but it never asked me to enter my password to
access its encrypted HDD. Instead it took me to its password reset
screen with three prompts. Huh? I never asked for that.
Was that supposed to happen?

<https://support.apple.com/library/content/dam/edam/applecare/images/en_US/osx/yosemite-password_reset-choose_problem.png>

Yes, that's the screen.

Post by Jolly Roger
That's normally what you see when you let the computer sit at the
FileVault password entry screen for a while, and the computer guesses
that you may have forgotten the password to FileVault. It tells you that
you can hold the power button to shit down, then press the power button
again to boot up into macOS Recovery, where you see this screen. So
apparently your computer booted into macOS Recovery due to losing power.

Ah. How long is the wait before the computer bring this FileVault reset
password screen up? I didn't wait very long since I only powered it back
up from an accidental shut down during its boot up. I wonder if it just
went to sleep due to lack of power and then came back to this, but then
its boot up was slow (normal) after its power loss.

Post by Jolly Roger
I haven't ever arrived there by accident, but I suspect you can just
shut it down and boot it up again to get back to the normal boot
sequence.

Yes, I was looking a way out and saw a reboot/shut(not shit) down
option. ;)

Oh well, I was just wondering. No big deal. I was just wanted to know
if that was even normal. If it was, then it would be a weird design! :)
--
Quote of the Week: "I grew up in airports and on air bases. I know what
flying and airports can be. And most airports make me feel like we're
about three per cent better than ants. Especially U.S. airports. They're
zoos. All civility is gone." --Douglas Coupland
Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
/\___/\Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org / http://antfarm.ma.cx
/ /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail privately. If credit-
| |o o| | ing, then please kindly use Ant nickname and URL/link.
\ _ /
( )

[Jolly Roger]

Post by Ant

Post by Jolly Roger
That battery should probably be replaced pronto.

Why? Is it bad? Will it blow up? This MBP is rarely used since it is
very slow and old. :/

Because of what *just* *happened* with it. If you accidentally unplug it
while it's running, you risk data loss/corruption. If you don't care
about data corruption, fine. Dying batteries can also swell and leak,
which can cause damage to other internal components. You may or may not
notice that happening before the damage occurs, but you also might not.
If you don't care about that either, fine. It's your computer. Do
whatever you want.

Post by Ant

Post by Jolly Roger
<https://support.apple.com/library/content/dam/edam/applecare/images/en_US/osx/yosemite-password_reset-choose_problem.png>

Yes, that's the screen.

Post by Jolly Roger
That's normally what you see when you let the computer sit at the
FileVault password entry screen for a while, and the computer guesses
that you may have forgotten the password to FileVault. It tells you
that you can hold the power button to shit down, then press the power
button again to boot up into macOS Recovery, where you see this
screen. So apparently your computer booted into macOS Recovery due to
losing power.

Ah. How long is the wait before the computer bring this FileVault
reset password screen up?

I don't know. If you really want to know, try it out for yourself. Boot
it up to the FileVault login screen, then let it sit while you time it.

Post by Ant
I didn't wait very long since I only powered it back up from an
accidental shut down during its boot up. I wonder if it just went to
sleep due to lack of power and then came back to this, but then its
boot up was slow (normal) after its power loss.

It had to check the integrity of the disk (see my previous comment about
data loss/corruption). It'd be a good idea for you to run Disk Utility's
Verify Disk facility - Unless you don't care. Then do whatever you want.
: )