Inherited FileVault Encrypted MacBook Pro

[carmen617]

Client's sister died, she has her 2015 MacBook Pro, it's been Filevault encrypted and nobody knows the password. I've told her there's no way to log in to the system without the password, but she's also asked me if I can just format and reinstall MacOS so it can be reused. I found a process in the link below, which makes it look relatively simple, but I've never done this before. Any of you Mac experts out there agree it's as easy as this, or is there a better process to follow, or should I just tell her that unless she can unearth her sister's password she's got a nice, expensive paperweight?

http://apple.stackexchange.com/ques...install-os-x-on-a-filevault-2-encrypted-drive

 

[Markverhyden]

If it is truly FV and not a firmware password then you can just nuke and pave. Given it's most likely 10.7 or greater you should be able to just power up into recovery mode, command + R, disk utilities, re-partition, and your good to go. Just checked it on my MB Air 10.12. Then to a install.

 

[carmen617]

If it is truly FV and not a firmware password then you can just nuke and pave. Given it's most likely 10.7 or greater you should be able to just power up into recovery mode, command + R, disk utilities, re-partition, and your good to go. Just checked it on my MB Air 10.12. Then to a install.

Thanks Mark, that's a hell of a lot easier. I can get into recovery mode no problem - a simple nuke and pave would be great. So why do I see people all over the web saying it's a problem with FV unless you have the user password?

 

[Markverhyden]

Thanks Mark, that's a hell of a lot easier. I can get into recovery mode no problem - a simple nuke and pave would be great. So why do I see people all over the web saying it's a problem with FV unless you have the user password?

Oops @carmen617. Spoke to soon, sorry. I did not go the final step of getting to the actual re-partition. If you do not have the FV password then recovery mode to re-partition will not work if it's on the boot drive. Like my 2011 Air. Now that may be different since a 2015 has it in BIOS. But I did test and you can use disk utility to format the partition, which accomplishes the same thing.

 

[HFultzjr]

What Mark said is the best answer.
Or, just upgrade her to an SSD and give her the latest and greatest.

 

[carmen617]

All set, no problems. System has an SSD already, very high end system. Not sure why the internet was telling me I couldn't just format and reinstall, it was a piece of cake.