Open Firmware: Password Not Recognized When Using Keyboard Layout Other Than U.S.

Symptom

Your Open Firmware password is not recognized during startup.


Solution

This issue occurs because keyboard layout mapping is not available early in the startup process. This means your keyboard input is treated as if it were a U.S. keyboard.

Use one of these two workarounds:

1. At the password prompt during startup, type your password as if you had a U.S. (QWERTY) keyboard, or

2. Change the keyboard layout to U.S. prior to creating your password in the Open Firmware Password application, but type your password as if you were using a localized keyboard layout.

Either of these workarounds will have the effect of "reverse mapping" your password, so that it is recognized.