Hi, I am having some trouble with a few Macbook Pro's I'm trying to Reload. No Matter what I try, I cannot get them to reload the OS. 2 different Macbook models with the same issue. Internet Recovery Fails every time. They Will not boot off external due to permisssions. You cannot change the permissions without going into the os. I have tried Internet restore & even older OS from the USB Slot. I have tried Apple Configurator 2 on a different mac and done Restore but this doesn't help either. The macbook is asking for a password to change security settings which you can't do without the OS.
If you've already tried DFU via the Apple Configurator 2, then the Mac in question has been linked to an Apple ID. What you are experiencing is Activation Lock. A deterrent to theft. There are to my (limited) knowledge no technical feasible ways around this. Are you sure the AC2 has detected the devices? Not all USB ports are created equal, and when I had experimented with an 2018/2020 Mac mini, it was only one USB port (the one on the left, when facing the back of the unit IIRC) that would work and allow AC2 to detect the Mac in DFU mode. Edit: I said Apple ID, but this could of course be the Device Enrollment Program of an Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager as well.
I believe it may have been previously linked to a Device Enrollment or Management. However these were released when the Business/Schoool turned the machines in. Once it's released you can go into the OS and change the permissions/security settings. The problem is I can not get into any OS to make these changes. Internet recovery usually fixes this issue but in this case it keeps crashing every time. Is there a way to clone the drive somehow or change permissions / settings in terminal without OS? And.. Yes I'm sure I was connected to AC2 because I was able to do a Restore. Thank you for the reply.