Boot key commands with non-Apple keyboard

I seem to be unable to perform any "Startup key" sequences (resetting PRAM, boot into recovery mode, boot from CD etcetera).
I'm using a Logitech USB (model Y-BF37) keyboard directly connected to the computer but no startup key commands works. (The keyboard is designed for use with apple and has apples command-key symbols on the key nearest the spacebar).
I have tried searching but the general opinion seem to be that any USB keyboard should work.
I have this otherwise well working keyboard and I didn't want to spend money on an Apple keyboard.
Do I have to buy an Apple keyboard to use boot key commands??? I don't think I can borrow an apple keyboard from anywhere and I need to be able to boot into recovery mode...

It is indeed strange that it doesn't work, unless...
Firmware password protection in Mac OS X ...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352
It would block usage of all the startup keys, like C, N, T, D, CMD+s, CMD+Option+p+r, CMD +v, Option boot will show a lock, and Shift, as well as booting from anything but the Hard Drive.

Similar Messages

PRAM reset with non-Apple keyboard??

Hi,
I have a generic USB keyboard connected to my G4 Mac Mini, no windows key, no apple option key. I need to reset the PRAM - is there any way I can do this with a non-Apple keyboard?
Thanks,

It is indeed strange that it doesn't work, unless...
Firmware password protection in Mac OS X ...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352
It would block usage of all the startup keys, like C, N, T, D, CMD+s, CMD+Option+p+r, CMD +v, Option boot will show a lock, and Shift, as well as booting from anything but the Hard Drive.

Mac mini will not recognize boot key sequences from new Apple keyboard

Just in case anyone else is in the same boat as me - be forewarned. My mini died on me all of a sudden last week. My initial thought was that it was a hard drive failure. It wouldn't boot up at all. I was just stuck at the grey apple, cranking gear screen.
I tried the usual stuff at first. Tried to boot from CD. Booting from an external FireWire drive. Nothing worked. Reset SMC, etc. Nothing worked.
So I brought in the machine to my local Apple store and talked to the Genius. He said I had a bad logic board, and that replacing it would cost almost as much as the computer. I contemplated the idea, but couldn't afford to pay for this.
So, instead, I just went without my mini for a couple of days - opting to use my Macbook instead. Then I decided that maybe it was the keyboard that was the issue. And yes, indeed, that was the problem. Using any other keyboard (even non-Apple keyboards) allowed me to boot from external devices, which then allowed me to identify that the issue was, in fact, a bad hard drive.
Long story short. 1) This issue needs to be remedied by Apple in some way, shape, or form. There must be others with a potential dying hard drive in the waiting with new aluminum keyboards. 2) The Genius should have known about this issue as well.

Any workarounds apart from the obvious? (I'd hate to stop using my otherwise awesome keyboard).
The new aluminium keyboard is not fully compatible with the Mac mini. It works perfectly well in general use, except that it cannot be used with modifier keys at startup for such things as booting into safe mode, to access the boot loader screen or to boot to the optical drive.
While this is a bizarre issue which it is hard to understand has not been resolved, it has been a long standing issue and well reported here. The workaround is the obvious one, to use almost any other USB-connected keyboard if the system needs to be booted with a modifier key. There's no need to stop using your aluminium keyboard if you like it - just not for situations where you need to modify the boot process.

How do I switch iMac between external display with non-Apple keyboard?

When using the Apple Wireless keyboard that came with my iMac, I can press Cmd+F2 to switch between the iMac display and a PC connected to the DisplayPort input of the iMac.
However, I prefer to use a USB (non-Apple) keyboard as I can connect that to a USB switch and share the same keyboard between my iMac and my PC. However, pressing Cmd+F2 on the non-Apple keyboard does not seem to work.
I suspect this is because it's not actually "Cmd+F2" but rather "Cmd+Brightness Up" and my external keyboard does not have a "Brightness Up" key.
Is there any way to mimic "Cmd+Brightness Up" on a non-Apple keyboard? Of is there some other way to force the iMac to switch between inputs?
It's annoying to have to keep the Apple keyboard around for the sole purpose of switching between inputs.

If they're on the same wireless network, there is no inherent difference between this and a wired network.
If the sharing isn't working then there's something else amiss. Can you describe the network setup in more detail so that someone might be able to spot the issue.

F-key mappings being disabled with non-apple keyboard

I'm using a Happy Hacking Lite 2 keyboard on my iMac. It doesn't have an eject key on it like the Apple keyboards so I remapped my f-keys for dashboard, exposé, etc. so that I could use F12 for ejecting optical media. Since upgrading to Leopard, I've noticed that whenever I want to use exposé or the dashboard when I get the f-key, nothing happens. When I open the keyboard prefs, I see that those keys are disabled. I re-enable them and everything works fine again for a time, but eventually (like a couple of hours) they mysteriously don't work again. I never had this problem in Tiger.
Any suggestions on how to correct this?

Try rEFIt http://refit.sourceforge.net/ as a Boot-Manager/-Menu.
Stefan

G3 CD boot issues with non Apple keyboard?

I recently bought an iMac G3 350MHz that won't boot all the way into OS 9.1. It says there is an error with extensions and to restart, holding Shift to disable them. I did and I am greeted by the same message. I'm using a Logitech USB keyboard and wondering if that has anything to do with it.
I've tried booting from an OS 9.2 disc with no luck. I'm holding C at boot (before and after I turn it on). I have tried Command-Option-Shift-Backspace and Command-Option-O-F ...AND holding space to eject the disc and that won't even work. So now I have a sick iMac with an OS 9.2 disc stuck in it and I have no clue what to do next. I'm thinking since none of the keyboard commands work, it might be that the Logitech keyboard isn't supported till the OS boots. Since it doesn't have Firewire, I can't try Target Disc Mode...not that I have an available Firewire drive either.
Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. I was hoping it would be a simple fix but now I'm ready to throw it out.

Glad to hear the Al keyboard's OS specs don't make it a "no-go." Looks like a nifty bit of kit.
The CD is a backup from a friend.
Could be the heart of the problem from the start. And using a friend's disk would be a EULA violation unless that system isn't currently installed on any of his computers.
Tiger (10.4) WILL work on a G3 but your lack of a DVD drive and FireWire ports (for using FW Target Disk Mode to get around the DVD limitation) does present a problem. It's possible to get Tiger on without the DVD drive as illustrated in this article:
http://www.oreillynet.com/mac/blog/2005/05/thecats_mustachesinstalling.html
but it would be easier if your iMac had FireWire. The only part of the article that's incorrect is that the Media Exchange Program expired some time ago.
Panther is still out there with third-party resellers but you have to be careful in buying it. Full retail install disks are black with a big silver X and come on CDs, not DVDs. Gray disks are machine specific restore disks and may not have all the stuff your computer needs, aggravating the whole process. If you order a full retail install set and receive gray disks, send them back.
Before installing OSX (and I mean BEFORE), you have to update the firmware on your iMac to 4.1.9 while still in OS9. The process is relatively simple and full instructions are included with the download here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75130
Failing to do the firmware update before attempting an OSX install can have serious consequences. If the firmware has already been updated the 4.1.9 updater will politely tell you that it's already there.
Allan

Making F3 key on external non apple keyboard work

I am switching from pc to mac...
I have an external monitor and keyboard (neithger apple). On the MBP, the F3 key displays all open windows, which I find helpful. F3 on the external key board does nothing. How do I make it have the same functionality as the F3 on the MBP?
Thanks
bob

All F keys on the external (ansi I think, standard MS windows keyboard) do nothing when hooked up the the MBP.
Other thoughts?
Bob

Can i use a non-apple keyboard with my imac?

can i use a non-apple keyboard with my imac?

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
You can use the keyboard you want with your iMac. However, note that some keys, as the Command key, aren't present in non-Apple keyboards. For example, in a non-Apple keyboard, you have to press the Windows key because that's the replacement of the Command key of an Apple keyboard

Startup keys with new Apple Keyboard and MacBook Pro

Upon powering up my Rev. A MBP, I hold down the OPTION key on the new Apple Keyboard to select my startup disk. Strangely, the startup went straight into the default startup disk that I have chosen previously. I didn't get to selection stage.
I tried with the old/white Apple Keyboard and my MBP keyboard and startup disk selector is A-Okay.
I hooked up the new keyboard to my new Mac mini and did the same thing and no problem.
Haven't tried with the rest of the startup keys like C or X yet with the MBP. Wonder is this a software bug between the MBP and keyboard.
Anyone with similar experience?

Actually, startup keys sequences do work with the Apple Wireless Keyboard (the old white one). I know because I have been using it that way with my Macs, PPC and Intel ones.
I tried Command-V, Command-S, Option, T, C and Shift on the new keyboard with my Rev. A MBP and it goes go straight into the Apple logo.
Swapped back to the old Apple Keyboard with my MBP and tried the keys above and no problems whatever so.
Hooked up the new Apple Keyboard to my new Mac mini and did the same keys without problems.
So, my conclusion is there something between the new keyboard and Rev. A MBP. Maybe someone with similar setup should try wha I did and see if they face the same issues.

Have no mouse and a non-apple keyboard

i recently got this computer as a hand me down so I could get accustomed to Mac OS. unfortunately it did not come with a keyboard or a mouse and all i have available right now is a non-apple keyboard. I'm having difficulty trying to navigate my way through anything. Can anyone help?

Hi, s2loco -
Eww is correct.
For many things there are keyboard workarounds. For example, if you are looking at the desktop, press the up-arrow key - that should highlight the upper-leftmost icon on the desktop; you can then use the arrow keys to navigate from icon to icon on the desktop. Note though that you can only travel that way in a straight line, laterally or vertically.
You can also press the initial letter of the filename of the item - even the first two if you're fast enough - and the alphabetical-earliest item whose filename starts with that lerr(s) will be selected. You can then press Command-O as before.
You can also press 1 to select an item that starts with 1, or the earliest item alphanumerically, and then use the Tab key to move from one item to the next in alphanumerical order.
These methods will also work in a folder set to List view as well as one set to Icon view.
Once the icon of an item you want to activate (open if it is a folder, start if it is a program, open with its creator program if it is a document) is selected, pressing Command-O (that's the letter "O", lower case) will initiate that action.
However - although the Enter key can be used in most windows to activate the default button, there is no keyboard solution to using pulldown menus, or to select items in a radio-button array (like in control panels), or (in most windows) to click a button other than the default one. For those a mouse is needed.
Just as important is using a keyboard which is compatible with Apple command keys. Although there are many non-Apple keyboards which are Mac-compatible, many, if not most, PC keyboards are not - it is iffy whether the Window, Alt, or whatever-they-use keys on such will behave like the keys on Mac-compatible keyboards.
If you have a working mouse, then you can sidestep the absence of keyboard command compatibility on such keyboards - except at startup. No matter how well we maintain our Macs, at some point or another we will need to use one or more startup commands - to zap the PRAM or rebuild the desktop; or to select an alternate boot volume; or to access Extensions Manager before the OS loads; or for some other crisis-based reason. For that reason it is wise to have a Mac-compatible keyboard available.

Non-apple keyboard and aperture recovery does not work

Hello all, I use a mac mini with a non-apple keyboard and I am trying to recover my Aperture database, however, although the alt and command key work in all applications, the combination does not start up Aperture in recovery mode. Anyone any ideas? Thanks.
regards,
Douwe

Hi,
Your migration to Lion brought over a previous hot key preferences document. And this contains one bad key that wasn't updated.
- Quit System Preferences (if open)
- Delete this document to remove a carry-over mapping error.
- Then logout
Note: That this will delete any existing modified keyboard assignments. Re-assign changes manually.
Note2: This document is in your users preferences folder.
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.symbolichotkeys.plist
-Alan

Non-Apple Keyboard: any way to control system audio volume?

I have a non-Apple Keyboard on my new Mini Lion 7.2.1
Is there any way to control system audio volume via the keyboard ?

Well. I can do this. But just because, on my Apple keyboard, there are the keys that do the job. There's a key to mute, and the keys to adjust low and high the sound. But keyboard shortcuts, I don't think exist. The aren't in keyboard shortcut in Keyboard panel, within System Preferences. The bottom line is that isn't a menu item in Finder for lower sound and higher sound. The only option would be an AppleScript that you save as an applet within Scripts menu (activated in Finder via Script Editor) and you invoke with a shortcut... Well, you can do it, if you open the script Set Output Volume in UI Elements Script folder within Scripts folder. Try it out!

Problem description: My MacBook Pro is running really slow. Applications won't open or take up to 10 min. EtreCheck version: 2.1.5 (108) Report generated December 27, 2014 at 9:15:58 PM CST Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products

Problem description:
My MacBook Pro is running really slow. Applications won’t open or take up to 10 min.
EtreCheck version: 2.1.5 (108)
Report generated December 27, 2014 at 9:15:58 PM CST
Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
Click the [Adware] links for help removing adware.
Hardware Information: ℹ️
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2011) (Verified)
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,1
1 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core
4 GB RAM Upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Video Information: ℹ️
Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 384 MB
Color LCD 1280 x 800
System Software: ℹ️
OS X 10.10.1 (14B25) - Uptime: one day 6:55:8
Disk Information: ℹ️
TOSHIBA MK5065GSXF disk0 : (500.11 GB)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
HD (disk1) / [Startup]: 498.88 GB (5.04 GB free) (Low!)
Core Storage: disk0s2 499.25 GB Online
MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-8A8
USB Information: ℹ️
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Gatekeeper: ℹ️
Mac App Store and identified developers
Kernel Extensions: ℹ️
/System/Library/Extensions
[loaded] com.epson.driver.EPSONProjectorUDAudio (1.30 - SDK 10.4) [Support]
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore (5.2.6 - SDK 10.4) [Support]
/System/Library/Extensions/Seagate Storage Driver.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_4 (5.2.6 - SDK 10.4) [Support]
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_5 (5.2.6 - SDK 10.5) [Support]
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.SeagateDriveIcons (5.2.6 - SDK 10.4) [Support]
Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️
[killed] com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist
[killed] com.apple.coreservices.appleid.authentication.plist
[killed] com.apple.icloud.fmfd.plist
[killed] com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd.plist
4 processes killed due to memory pressure
Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[killed] com.apple.ctkd.plist
[killed] com.apple.icloud.findmydeviced.plist
[killed] com.apple.ifdreader.plist
[killed] com.apple.nehelper.plist
[killed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist
[running] com.seagate.TBDecorator.plist [Support]
5 processes killed due to memory pressure
Launch Agents: ℹ️
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.carbonite.launchd.carbonitealerts.plist [Support]
[running] com.carbonite.launchd.carbonitestatus.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.coupons.coupond.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.hp.help.tocgenerator.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.trendmicro.itis.dca.plist [Support]
[running] com.trendmicro.itis.uimgmt.agent.plist [Support]
Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[failed] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Support]
[running] com.carbonite.launchd.carbonitedaemon.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Support]
[running] com.trendmicro.icore.av.plist [Support]
[running] com.trendmicro.icore.main.plist [Support]
[running] com.trendmicro.icore.wp.plist [Support]
[running] com.trendmicro.itis.plugin.plist [Support]
User Launch Agents: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Support]
[invalid?] com.jdibackup.JustCloud.autostart.plist [Support]
[invalid?] com.jdibackup.JustCloud.backupstart.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.trendmicro.itis.uninstaller.plist [Support]
User Login Items: ℹ️
iTunesHelper Application (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
bomgar-scc-20130819-104735 UNKNOWN (missing value)
bomgar-scc-20130905-143949 UNKNOWN (missing value)
USB Display Agent Application (/Applications/USB Display/USB Display.app/Contents/Resources/USB Display Agent.app)
WDDriveUtilityHelper Application (/Applications/WD Drive Utilities.app/Contents/Resources/WDDriveUtilityHelper.app)
WDSecurityHelper Application (/Applications/WD Security.app/Contents/Resources/WDSecurityHelper.app)
USB Display Agent Application (/Applications/USB Display/USB Display.app/Contents/Resources/USB Display Agent.app)
bomgar-scc-20130819-104735 UNKNOWN (missing value)
bomgar-scc-20130905-143949 UNKNOWN (missing value)
HP Scheduler Application (/Library/Application Support/Hewlett-Packard/Software Update/HP Scheduler.app)
HP Product Research Application (/Library/Application Support/Hewlett-Packard/Customer Participation/HP Product Research.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.7 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 15.0.0.223 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
CouponPrinter-FireFox_v2: Version: 5.0.5 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
Flash Player: Version: 15.0.0.223 - SDK 10.6 Mismatch! Adobe recommends 16.0.0.235
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10
User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
npBcsMcTcIO: Version: Unknown [Support]
Safari Extensions: ℹ️
Trend Micro Toolbar [Installed]
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
Carbonite [Support]
Flash Player [Support]
Paragon NTFS for Mac ® OS X [Support]
Seagate Dashboard for Mac OSX [Support]
Time Machine: ℹ️
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: ON
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
HD: Disk size: 498.88 GB Disk used: 493.84 GB
Destinations:
Jens Seagate Backup [Local]
Total size: 999.86 GB
Total number of backups: 6
Oldest backup: 2014-06-24 10:33:56 +0000
Last backup: 2014-12-17 17:14:18 +0000
Size of backup disk: Too small
Backup size 999.86 GB < (Disk used 493.84 GB X 3)
My Passport for Mac [Local]
Total size: 2.00 TB
Total number of backups: 14
Oldest backup: 2013-08-21 19:19:35 +0000
Last backup: 2014-12-19 11:44:23 +0000
Size of backup disk: Excellent
Backup size 2.00 TB > (Disk size 498.88 GB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
      6% coreaudiod
      5% CarboniteDaemon
      4% iMovie
      3% JustCloud
      3% Wondershare Player
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
335 MB iPhoto Library Manager
180 MB Finder
142 MB iMovie
70 MB Preview
51 MB Microsoft Word
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
149 MB Free RAM
1.04 GB Active RAM
897 MB Inactive RAM
1.17 GB Wired RAM
30.53 GB Page-ins
1.42 GB Page-outs
Diagnostics Information: ℹ️
Dec 26, 2014, 05:17:12 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/iPhoto_2014-12-26-171712_[redacted].cpu_resourc e.diag [Details]
Dec 26, 2014, 03:47:17 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/CarboniteDaemon_2014-12-26-154717_[redacted].cp u_resource.diag [Details]
Dec 26, 2014, 02:22:01 PM Self test - passed
Dec 26, 2014, 11:48:03 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/CarboniteDaemon_2014-12-26-114803_[redacted].cp u_resource.diag [Details]

You have nearly run out of disk space. Either purchase a larger one or start cleaning out the one you have?

OS 10.4, non-Apple keyboard, How to open the CD tray?

How do you open the CD tray with OS 10.4 and a non-Apple keyboard?
F12 used to work but this was changed in 10.4 to trigger the stupid Dashboard.

F12 does not work for me, but I accept that if other people can make it work, then I need to figure out why it doesn't work for me. Glad to know there is a solution on the horizon.
Regarding adding the CD eject control to the Finder menu; that's a great idea. I should have remembered that was possible. For reference, the location of that menu add-on and others is:
System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras

How can I connect Bluetooth in iPad retina with non apple devices ?

How can I connect Bluetooth in iPad retina with non apple devices ?

What devices?
The iPad can only pair with earphones, speakers and keyboards.
It cannot directly pair with other phones or computers for file transfer or other operations.
Most Bluetooth devices will have a user guide to connect them to other devices. follow that to start the process.
From the iPad side, its just a matter of going inot Settings->BlueTooth turning it on, and searching for the device to pair.

Boot key commands with non-Apple keyboard

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