Booting in disk-selection mode

Hi,
Since the release of the developer preview of Lion, I have been dual-booting my MacBook, meaning that I have to hold down the alt-key (or opt-key) choose which partition of my hard drive to load.
I was wondering wether there was a way to make my Mac always boot as if I held down alt. This would have a lot of advantages, since it would always ask for my firmware-password, making my mac safer, and I could turn on auto-login, speeding up the boot-process.
I thought I found a way when I read on the internet about the nvram-command. With this, you can change certain settings in your pram, for example making your mac boot in verbose mode every time with "nvram boot-args="-v" ". This is getting close, yet I can't find a way...
Thanks in advance,
Matthias

Thanks for your reply.
I have used rEFIt before, and it is not compatible with firmware protection, which I believe would make my mac safer because the firmware password is to be entered before the loading of the OS, whichever that is. There are many ways to get past an OS login without knowing the password, yet I have never heard of a way to get past firmware protection.
For some reason, rEFIt did not seem to work in this case, probably because I have only one OS on my hard drive, albeit 2 different versions of it. It is a great solution for people who want to dual-boot with Windows or Linux though, as I have done before.
Thanks again.

Similar Messages

How to always start up in disk select mode?

How do I do that? Sometimes when I need to start my bootcamp partition to make some changes to Windows, and I just forgot to hold the Option key, I'll just have to wait for it to boot up in Mac OS, and then restart again. How do I just make the computer always start up in disk select mode, so I don't have to hold the Option key?

the only way to do that is by using rEFIt
http://refit.sourceforge.net/

Cannot get MacPro to allow me to boot to an alternative boot disk. Can choose in control panel but will not use the disk to boot. Also won't boot using disk selected using option key

My primary boot disk is encrypted as is a secondary boot disk (backup) but I cannot boot using any other disk. System 10.8.5, MacPro 4.1.
All disks mount using primary boot disk. All disks check out as OK and I have repaired permissions.
When I choose in the control panel the Mac boots but will always use my original boot disk.
When I select the disk using the option key at startup, the boot process stalls with a grey screen and a spinning cursor.
Thanks,
Dave

Still trying to figure this out. I erased the drive, did a format using disk util and then re-installed the system but I still cannot get the disk used as a startup drive. I also tried an external firewire drive and it won't allow me to boot from it either.
I can choose it starting up with the option key but it just gives me a blue screen and the spinning cursor.
If I select it in the startup pref pane it boots into my other startup drive only.
DaveLon

Forced to boot into Disk Target mode

Ever since I replaced the hard drive in my 1.67 15" Powerbook I have been forced to start up holding down the "T" key, which as I understand it is for booting from an external firewire drive.
This only happens when my external firewire drive is plugged into my Powerbook. If I remove the cable, then starting up with the power button works fine.
The hard drive was replaced with a Western Digital 120 gig drive.
How can I reset things so that I don't have to hold down the "T" key at startup? It probably won't do any harm but I'd like things back to the way they were.

Holding down the T key while booting boots the Mac into Target disk mode, it does not boot the Mac from an external drive. TD mode allows other Macs then to access yours as though it were an external drive.
How did it come about that you discovered that you could only boot while holding the T key? Does your Mac then function normally?
Regards,
Steve M.

Can't log in with valid password, can't boot from disk, can't access disk utility, in single user mode can't reset password as appears locked in caps mode with '?' for forward slash, can anyone help?

Can't log in with valid password, can't boot from disk, can't access disk utility, in single user mode can't reset password as appears locked in caps mode with '?' for forward slash, can anyone help?

Which keyboard layout you were using? German, French ... I suppose your layout is reset to the default: US and you are unable to find the "?" or "/" ...
Please have a look into the keyboard viewer, to see how the layout of your keyboard is actually.
marek

Freezing with blue screen & can't boot from single user mode or disk

My keyboard is wired and plugged directly into my Intel iMac running OSX 10.5.8. I do not have the Leopard disks, but I do have the Tiger disks. I was trying to boot in single-user mode so that I could run AppleJack to try to fix another issue I'm having--I get the light blue startup screen flashed at me several times daily for the past week or so. When the blue screen flashes, it totally freezes my computer (obviously) and lasts from 1-10 seconds. I can't find anything that is triggering it. I haven't installed anything new that I'm aware of, and it happens whether the computer has previously been slept or not. I'm also not using an external display / additional monitor.
Also, for anyone who is nice enough to answer, please explain everything--I'm not an expert user.

Well since it is so time consuming and a security risk to turn off FileVault, I was hoping to hear from someone with more experience if this was the solution, or just something to "try"? Are you speaking from experience or just making a suggestion, leroydouglas? Thanks.

When I reboot my iMac I'll get hard disk selection instead of fast login and I am not using boot camp! Any help is greatly appriciated!

When I reboot my iMac I'll get hard disk selection instead of fast login and I am not using boot camp! Any help is greatly appriciated!

Have you selected which disk you want to boot from? In System Preferences, click startup disk and choose the drive you want as your default boot drive.

Urgent: MacBook pro boots up in disk utility mode

today, out of the blue it boots up in disk utility mode. I restarted it several times but nothing changed. I runned disk repair and permissions repair and no change. Tried to start in safe mode but it will not.
any ideas? My last backup is a month old and I hope i don' t need to wipe the disk clean..

Reset the SMC and NVRAM:
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063
Then I would try the safe boot again:
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262
If no success, I would reinstall the OSX.
Ciao.

IPod 5g, sad face BUT boots into disk mode

Hey everybody, I have a iPod that my uncle brought me, he says it's his sons, but he doesn't need it. This ipod boots with apple logo, hdd making clicky sound, and then a sad face appears for about 4 seconds and shuts down. If I try holding center and play buttons, it does boot into disk mode, but before that it says that I have to connect it to the computer to restore it, but itunes doesn't recognize it. But computer does. is there any way to fix it?

The Sad face icon is usually a very good indication of a hardware malfunction or failure usually with the iPod's Hard Drive, which would also explain the loud clicking noise you are hearing.
Have you seen this article yet?
iPod display's a sad iPod icon
If you are up for the challenge, you can also try all of the troubleshooting mentioned described by another forum member Mitch 751.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1193481?start=0&tstart=0
B-rock

Unable to boot normally - Always need to boot with Single User Mode

Hi Community,
Since last few days, I am unable to boot my Macbook Pro normally, running latest version of OS X Yosemite. When I boot, it goes to grey screen with Apple logo and progress bar, once the progress completes to 100% (after 5-10 minutes which is very longer than usual), it asks me to 'Select language' which seems like fresh installation of OS X. In that case, when I click next and it doesn't detect my SSD (blank list of select installation disk/drive).
After reading some threads, I found work-around and always need to boot into Single user mode (by pressing Command+S during power on) and then need to run following commands...
/sbin/fsck -fy
/sbin/mount -uw /
"device is write protected" numerous times
reboot
and then only it loads OS X and displays login screen. This happens all the times and I need to follow above steps always to get login screen.
How can I fix this?

Please help me out here. I tried booting it off a USB flash drive with ATV flash but that gave me some errors and prompted me to login with username [email protected] with password frontrow
But I am not sure how to get to login using a suitable input. I tried to telnet it using my PC over network but I dont think it has initialized anything (like wifi or network) at the prompt. Would it take USB keyboard input? All I can do is remove the power and restart it with the usb flash out and get into then get into the recovery loop. I am not sure replacing the hard-drive would help. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Sinu

Boots only in Safe Mode - Macbook mid 2007

My Macbook mid 2007 with Snow Leopard will not boot correctly. The only successful means is Safe Mode (key S during boot).
All measures published in various postings have been conducted without any peripheral devices. These are:
verify harddisc
verify RAM
resetting PRAM and NVRAM
A detailled overview can be found under here.
The existing original RAM and harddisc were successfully tested using a second identical Macbook. A new installation of Snow Leopard on the harddisc using the second Macbook was successful and started in this second Macbook as expected. This harddisc was then inserted into my Macbook, but it would not boot. Hence it is safe to exclude problems with RAM and the harddisc.
Attempts to boot with the Snow Leopard DVD (either via C plus boot or Option during boot and select Install DVD) are not successful. Attempts to boot from an external drive are also not successful. The boot process (regular, DVD, external) progresses to different states including grey screen with Apple and frozen wheel. There is no consistency.
From the various postings I have found and studied along with my numerous tests, I have deduced the following possibilities:
There is a problem with the GPU.
There is a problem with the keyboard (maybe someone spilled something).
I have found numerous solutions for "boots only in Safe Mode". All include booting via Install DVD, but this does not work in my case.
I have exhausted all my possibilities. Hopefully someone can provide more insight.

lruetimann wrote:
What I am not able to test is booting with an external CD/DVD drive. However, there is no indication that the built-in drive is malfunctioning.
If you have a second MacBook (#2 working OK), you could use its CD/DVD drive loaded with the 10.6 DVD as the target disk to boot into, as the first Macbook (#1 the troubled one) reportedly cannot see a 10.6 DVD normally.
How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode
In your case this would be:
With the MacBook(1) on (Host), the MacBook(2) off (Target) connect the firewire cable.
Start the MacBook(2), hold T key to make it the boot drive. It will appear on the MacBook's(1) Desktop.
Insert the 10.6 Install DVD into the MacBook(2).
It too will appear on the MacBook's(1) Desktop.
From the MacBook(1), select Restart and hold down the Option key to select Start-up Manager.
From Start-up Manager, select the 10.6 Install DVD which will take you into the installation.
If this occurs, then you have booted into the install 10.6 DVD, From there you could try and install it, see what happens.
However, if it does not see the DVD disk, then this would indicate a defect in the logicboard (motherboard), though which component I would not guess.
If it does see the DVD, in Macbook (2) and can boot into it,… I'd be surprised!

G4 powermac will not boot up nomally unless i boot up in safe mode help ?

My G4 power mac will not boot up when switched on itakes several re boots and somtimes crashes.
Will boot up in safe mode. but this only allows me to use some of the application software i need and not all of them.
Can anyone help I thought it could be the hardisk but why would it boot up in safe mode?

Boot from the Tiger installation disc 1 (hold down 'C' on startup). Don't touch the installer, go to the menu bar and select Disk Utility (I think it's in the Tools menu on Tiger).
In DU, select your internal drive in the sidebar (the top item with the makers name and serial no.). Run Repair Disk.
If problems are reported, run it again until the green message says the disc seems to be OK.
Quit DU, quit the installer and restart.
If DU says there are problems it can't fix, you may need DiskWarrior.
Either way, let us know the results please.
(PS; this is the Intel iMac forum - PPC are next door!)
Message was edited by: noondaywitch

Brand new machines are not able to boot to Disk or Network

Hi all,
Ok so I have several new iMac's and MacBook Pro's that I am trying to get to boot to the network so that I can run DeployStudio to image with a dual boot OS. I keep running into a problem in which the machine will boot to the HD but will not boot to the network (N key) this also happens when i try to boot to disk (C key) instead the machine just hangs at the white screen. Even when I try options, they system recognizes the CD and network, but when selected will just hang again at the white screen. It seems that the only thing I can get the systems to boot is the HD and target mode (T key).
I had this happen a couple weeks ago with a MacBook Pro and Apple has said it may be a bad logic board and ended up replacing it (still waiting on the replacement). I was wondering if anyone has had the same issue and has found a solution. This problem has been going on for about a month now and is becoming more evident closer the new semester comes. Any help would be appreciated.

My guess is that the upper level IT drones need to create an image that will boot the newest Macs & have not yet done so. See Mac OS X Server: Creating a single NetBoot or NetInstall image for multiple Mac models for more about this. From that source:
"When Apple releases newer hardware and there is not a newer retail installation disc available yet, you should use the disc that shipped with the computer to create a separate image."

Hi i am having a big trouble. MY mac wont start past the gray screen. I tried starting on safe boot, single user user mode , recovery mode. Everything it gets stuck on the gray screen i even tried reinstalling it , same thing what should i do?

MY mac wont start past the gray screen. I tried starting on safe boot, single user user mode , recovery mode. Everything it gets stuck on the gray screen i even tried reinstalling it , same thing what should i do? it lets me reinstall sometimes Sometimes.... it is weird.

orshikhfromsc,
boot from the Mac OS X Install DVD that originally came in the box with your MacBook Pro (by holding down the C key as it starts up). When the desktop appears, select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu and erase your internal disk. After it’s been erased, reformat it. After it’s been reformatted, exit Disk Utility and reïnstall the version of Mac OS X from that DVD onto your internal disk. After that version of Mac OS X has been reïnstalled, boot from your internal disk and run Software Update to get it up-to-date within that version; that should allow you to redownload and reïnstall Mavericks, if desired. If Mavericks is reïnstalled, run Software Update again to get it up to date.
If you no longer have the two grey installation DVDs, you can purchase a replacement set from either Apple or iFixit.

Imac 24-inch won't boot - OS disk inside

I have a 24 iMac that will not boot properly, and has the OS disk in the optical drive. I hear the optical drive grunt and spin upon powering up, but nothing more happens, leaving me with a black screen.
The three diagnostic LED's are all green.
The USB keyboard and mouse seem non-responsive and I've had no success at powering on with the mouse button pressed, or using any key stroke combination on startup.
I thought if I could get the OS disk out it might boot. (OS was upgraded to Lion, OS disk is Snow Leapord) Anyone know how to eject a disk without using the keyboard, mouse, or properly booted imac?
Thanks!

Five ways to eject a stuck CD or DVD from the optical drive
Ejecting the stuck disc can usually be done in one of the following ways:
1. Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the left mouse button until the disc ejects.
2. Press the Eject button on your keyboard.
3. Click on the Eject button in the menubar.
4. Press COMMAND-E.
5. If none of the above work try this: Open the Terminal application in your Utilities folder. At the prompt enter or paste the following:
/usr/bin/drutil eject
If this fails then try this:
Boot the computer into Single-user Mode. At the prompt enter the same command as used above. To restart the computer enter "reboot" at the prompt without quotes.
This fifth option will only work if you can boot into single-user mode, but if the OS is badly hosed this won't work. So, you can try getting it to boot from the DVD.
However, it sounds like you may have a hardware failure if the keyboard is unresponsive. Since Lion was installed you can try booting to the Recovery HD:
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.

Booting in disk-selection mode

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for