Unable to choose startup disk with "Option" key

I recently ran into this problem after installing Windows through Boot Camp. When I boot up my Mac and hold the "Option" key it just ignores it completely and flies right on into whatever OS I have selected as my startup disk.
It also will not work if I have a DVD or CD in the drive, and I noticed it is doing this even without a Windows partition.
Any ideas or help is appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Aaron

As I said above, it works fine.
I noticed this as well: none of the keys on the keyboard work when the machine starts up. I tried plugging the keyboard directly into the Mac instead of having, at I usually do, plugged into the Cinema Display and that didn't change anything.
I recently just took the machine in for repair and the replaced an I/O board, any chance that may have something to do with it? It was working fine before I had the repairs.

Similar Messages

Cannot choose startup disc with option key

Hello,
I have an intel based iMac 24" and I ve installer bootcamp. Eveything is working fine except that I cannot choose the startup disk with the option key when the computer starts.
I m not sure if this is relativ to bootcamp. I m using basic keyboard (the one that came with the iMac), mighty mouse ...
I hit option (as soon as the computer restart, I even hit option before starting the computer). And I keep option key down.
So everytime I need to switch OS by choosing startup disk in the preferences system, rahhh
Thanks for the help.
BigM

Then I can only assume there is a serious problem with your OS X installation or the system firmware because they control the Boot Manager as well as the processing of startup command keystrokes. I would take the computer to an Apple service center for repair because it is still under warranty.
The only thing you could do is to reinstall OS X which I would recommend you do from scratch.

Option key can't function to access start up manager, so i can't choose startup disk. please help me

option key can't function to access start up manager, so i can't choose startup disk. please help me

If you have Apple Care, call them and get a case number. Otherwise, take the computer to an Apple store or an AASP. Whichever is more convenient for you.

Mac Book Does Not See XP as Option On Startup with 'Option' Key

After successful install of XP Pro, my Mac Book only shows the Mac HD on startup when I hold down the 'Option' key. Per instructions, this procedure is suppose to show both the Mac & Windows HDs and allow a choice at startup. Ant ideas how to fix?

Hatter:
I now have a premise for this problem. I used an XP install disc that I received with a Compaq laptop that I purchased last year. HP/Compaq often write their own information to the boot section upon install of the operating system. If this happened when I installed XP from the Compaq disc then this HP/Compaq boot information may be interfering with the XP boot being seen at startup when the option key is pressed.
To prove this premise I need to know if you installed XP from a disc provide by an OEM under their brand such as HP. If so then we can conclude that the premise stated above is correct and that the solution would be to install a clean version of XP from MS.
Can you help?

12 hour kernel panic, resolved with option key, but why?

i have no idea why my ppc G5 failed to start this morning.
booted up last night at 10:30, read mail, went to see new video from "within temptation" emailed to me from student - also went to their website and to the site of 'nightwish"
listened to 2 samples and then went to watch 24.
shut down computer about 2am, having forgotten it was on.
it is scheduled to autoboot at 6:16am with itunes playing as my alarm.
this morning it did not complete booting before kernal panic. it would not boot
ran diskwarrior 4.1, it found 33% out of order and fixed most - still are some problems with SUID files, that i understand may not be problems, just un-updated database files. it went into kernal panic when i tried to check my other 500gig seagate drive (i have 2 internal drives) that is home to timemachine and DVD movies (250gig of each). inserted leopard disc, ran permissions and several were corrected, some would not be repaired. verified both discs - both are good.
from apple site (run from my macbook) shut down booted with 'X' pressed - no go.
then booted with 'option' key pressed, selected my hard disc and everything booted normally.....why?
as a 10yr apple user, if you can tell me why this happened &/or how i can avoid it in the future i'd really appreciate it
thankyou
DETAILS:
Tue Apr 7 16:38:59 2009
Unresolved kernel trap(cpu 0): 0x400 - Inst access DAR=0x0000000005F9D000 PC=0x0000000000000000
Latest crash info for cpu 0:
Exception state (sv=0x5962a280)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x40009030; DAR=0x05F9D000; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x5967FAE0; XCP=0x00000010 (0x400 - Inst access)
Backtrace:
0x00000000
backtrace terminated - unaligned frame address: 0x0000001C
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x5962a280)
previously dumped as "Latest" state. skipping...
Exception state (sv=0x5961a000)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task
Mac OS version:
Not yet set
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.6.0: Mon Nov 24 17:39:01 PST 2008; root:xnu-1228.9.59~1/RELEASE_PPC
System model name: PowerMac7,2
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xFFFF0004): 0x400 - Inst access
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x0009BCF0 0x0009C694 0x00029EA0 0x000AFC10 0x000B32F8
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x5962a280)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x40009030; DAR=0x05F9D000; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x5967FAE0; XCP=0x00000010 (0x400 - Inst access)
Backtrace:
0x00000000
backtrace terminated - unaligned frame address: 0x0000001C
Exception state (sv=0x5961a000)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task
*SYSTEM CONFIG*
Model: PowerMac7,2, BootROM 5.1.4f0, 2 processors, PowerPC 970 (2.2), 2 GHz, 5 GB
Graphics: kHW_ATIrv351Item, ATY,RV351, spdisplaysagpdevice, 256 MB
Memory Module: DIMM0/J11, 256 MB, DDR SDRAM, PC3200U-30330
Memory Module: DIMM1/J12, 256 MB, DDR SDRAM, PC3200U-30330
Memory Module: DIMM2/J13, 256 MB, DDR SDRAM, PC3200U-30330
Memory Module: DIMM3/J14, 256 MB, DDR SDRAM, PC3200U-30330
Memory Module: DIMM4/J41, 1 GB, DDR SDRAM, PC3200U-30330
Memory Module: DIMM5/J42, 1 GB, DDR SDRAM, PC3200U-30330
Memory Module: DIMM6/J43, 1 GB, DDR SDRAM, PC3200U-30330
Memory Module: DIMM7/J44, 1 GB, DDR SDRAM, PC3200U-30330
Modem: MicroDash, UCJ, V.92, 1.0F, APPLE VERSION 2.6.7
Network Service: Built-in Ethernet, Ethernet, en0
PCI Card: firewire, ieee1394, SLOT-3
Serial ATA Device: ST3500630AS, 465.76 GB
Serial ATA Device: ST3500630AS, 465.76 GB
Parallel ATA Device: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-106D, 7.51 GB
USB Device: hub_device, (null) mA
USB Device: EPSON Scanner, (null) mA
USB Device: deskjet 5550, (null) mA
USB Device: Hub in Apple Extended USB Keyboard, (null) mA
USB Device: Apple Optical USB Mouse, (null) mA
USB Device: Apple Extended USB Keyboard, (null) mA
USB Device: USB Receiver, (null) mA
FireWire Device: iLINK DRIVE, SONY, 400mbit_speed
FireWire Device: unknown_device, unknown_value, unknown_speed
thanks!
Message was edited by: Moderator

I have no idea what could have caused the kernel panic, how to read a back-trace, or why the problem may have corrected itself after an option-key reboot.
However, in an unrelated topic, this statement raises some concerns:
..."ran diskwarrior 4.1, it found 33% out of order and fixed most - still are some problems with SUID files, that i understand may not be problems"...
I have never used "DiskWarrior" so am not familiar with details of the versions, but if permissions were repaired while booted from the "Disk Warrior" disk (which I assume was done since the system was described as unbootable from the drive) and if the OS contained on that disk was 10.4, and if the system on the hard drive was upgraded to 10.5 from an earlier version, then it is likely that "DiskWarrior" has reset the system's permissions to 10.4 values, which are incompatible with 10.5.
Furthermore, if the SUID messages appeared as a result of such an action, "repair permissions" in 10.5 will not repair them, and the messages do not fall into the category of those that should be ignored, potentially indicating that the system is in a state with security issues. Those familiar with the command line may be able to manually correct the permissions, but otherwise, an "archive and install" is likely the only recourse.
from:
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/support.html
..."Note: If you have used any utility to repair permissions of a Leopard startup disk while started from Mac OS X 10.4 or earlier, Alsoft recommends that you perform an upgrade install of Leopard over your existing Leopard install. This will restore any changed permissions to their original values without altering your data."...

Choose startup disk

I know there's a bunch of procedures for starting up in different modes, I just can't find them on the Apple Support pages. (I know, I'm supposed to know them) Right now I want to start up on the mode where you choose the startup disk. There's others too, like starting in safe mode. I'd like to see a list of them. Like choosing startup disk, do I hold down the 's' (for startup) or the 'd' key (for disk), or maybe the 's' key is for safe mode. Thanx, sorry to ask such a nooby question.

Hi Ken Spiker;
If your Mac is shut down and you are starting it then holding down the option key will reveal the system disks.
If you are running open System Preference > Startup disk will reveal the system disks also.
Allan

How can I do an startup disk with DiskWarriori included?

How can I do an startup disk with DiskWarrior included?
I want to do it with System 9.2.2. for those days that apperas an ? in the disk... buf!
I did one but the Mac didn't recognize it...
Thanks

xjulia...
Remember what I said earlier? ""The tricky parts... Then install your wanted version of Mac OS 9""...
Install is a key word here.
Launch your latest Mac OS 9 CD and run the Installer targeting the mounted image. I prefer to do a minimum universal install from within the installer. Uncheck items of no use. If your CD is an older version of Mac OS 9, run the following version of an updater. Same can be done to update your utilities so long as there is a updater available for the utility.
<hr width="300">
Copying an already installed System Folder, is a bit to be desired, as you have tons of manual trashing (fixing, weeding, etc.) to do.
<--OR-->
Bootable CDs normally contain a copy protected System Folder that is equivalent to fooling around with mother nature. It unfortunately leaves you with many CD cake boxes of coasters in the process.
<hr width="300">
By the way— A mounted image gets refreshed in a funny way. Drag the mounted image to the trash and "chug-chug". Click on the [your named].img file and a fresh image gets mounted. Just keep an eye on both as you get the feel.
...Ron

When starting up my iMac with Option Key held down, my recovery partition shows 10.9 instead of 10.10. How do I install the correct recovery partition?

iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011)
Yosemite 10.10.1
When I start up my iMac with option key held down, the recovery partition is shown as 10.9 instead of 10.10 which is the installed version.
How do I install the proper recovery partition?

Thanks very much for the quick reply. I figured it would something that simple. Like I said, I only know enough to cause trouble. LOL
Thanks again, Guess I need to find a new game to play. LOL

I did force shutdown on my MacBook Pro (2006 year, 15.4"), so, when I tried to boot, it shows apple logo (as usual) and shuts down. When I booting MacBook with Option key pressed it shows lock icon and field for password. Please help me.

I did force shutdown on my MacBook Pro (2006 year, 15.4"), so, when I tried to boot, it shows apple logo (as usual) and shuts down. When I booting MacBook with Option key pressed it shows lock icon and field for password. Please help me.

Wait for advice on repairing a damaged filesystem. Forceshutdown stops processs in mid-stream and leaves some parts not-valid.
Do not proceed until you get that avice.

Bootcamp volume selectable in Startup Disk but won't boot. Bootcamp not visible with Option Key

My bootcamp volume is selectable in Startup Disk System Preference, but Windows 7 will not boot stating no bootable volume. The Bootcamp volume does not appear when option key held down during startup. Windows 7 booted fine before I booted into MacOS. When I tried to reboot in Windows 7, that's when I received the non-bootable error. All looks fine on the Windows 7 volume.
I'm working with a Macbook Pro Early 2008, 256 GB SSD, Windows 7 and the Boot Camp Support Software 4.0.4033.
I tried to re-install Windows 7 on its 32 GB partition, however Windows reported volume is not in proper format???
I tried repairing my Windows 7 volume with my install disk, but apparentl after having to update my initial Windows 7 instalation (disk bought in 2009) about 3 or 4 times, my Windows 7 install disk reports it cannot repair the now updated version of Windows 7 on my hard drive. Lovely. Brilliant engineering.
I looked into editing my partition table, but that process appears more a hack/bandaid for the underlying problem that more than likely still exists.
Any suggestions, other than painfully starting from the beginning???
Thanks.

Well, want to rule out drive case,, as those do come up with EVERY new OS, just hit Lion 10.7 forum when it came out, or when 10.6.0 came out 3 yrs ago.
Maybe the power adapter is the weak link.
As I said, and goes back yrs, not a fan of FW/USB/eSATA case from major vendors (LaCie, WD, Seagate etc).
And you could try another case. Be sure to buy a case that lets you swap in your own hard drives though.
http://www.macsales.com/firewire - look for bare drive case "0" capacity hard drive

System Preferences Startup Disk Vs. Boot with Option key depressed.

External FW drive connected via standard 400 FW cable, is recognized by System Preferences>Startup Disk, proving that it contains a valid OS X system. But when selected, and clicking Restart, first in the System Preferences>Startup Disk window, then in the modal dialogue, the computer beeps, but does not restart. Same behavior when the computer's internal drive is selected.
The only way to select a startup disk is booting the computer (select Restart from Apple Menu) holding the Option key, clicking the required icon, and then clicking the arrow at the right end of the window.
I have run DiskWarrior, zapped the PRAM (that should take care of startup settings), no change.
Sum up: System Preferences>Startup Disk does not perform.
Powerbook PPC.

Charly,
there might be a timing problem. At the time when the Mac PRAM asks for the startup disk the firewire disk might not be "present" yet. Can you turn on the external disk manually?
Does the preference pane "remember" your selection of the startup disk or does it change it back to the internal disk?
You might want to run some system maintenance, especially clean the caches: Mac OS X 10.3/10.4: System maintenance
If this answered your question please consider granting some stars: Why reward points?

Problems with Snow Leopard and choosing startup disk.

I just installed Snow Leopard 10.6.3 on my external drive to test it out. Most things seem to work just fine, but I'm having problems selecting a start up disk from system preferences. When I bring up start up disk, I see the internal and external drives but they are greyed out and unselectable. How do I get back to starting up off of my internal drive? Is this a common problem?

Do try CT's suggestion first; that might be the most likely explanation.
In Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, do you see both drives?
You might be able to get back into the Internal by starting up from Startup Manager. Hold the Option (Alt) key down at the startup chime. When that finishes loading, you should be presented with icons for both drives. If that succeeds, and you can return to the Internal, you can then see if the options in Startup Disk are available.
In Disk Utility, I would also repair the External, if and when you are booted back from the Internal.
And once you are booted back normally, highlight the mounted External Volume and do a Get info (CMD-I). Make sure "Ignore Permissions on this Volume" is unchecked.
Edit: as CT suggested, you should also repair Permissions, but -- and this may have changed in 10.6, not sure -- you should generally repair Permissions booted from the Volume you are repairing. Before repairing Permissions, however, on any Volume, you should first Verify that Volume. Repairing Permissions on a Volume with problems will only make those problems worse.
Message was edited by: WZZZ

Key combination to choose startup disk

My Windows partition is hosed. How do I get back to a screen that lets me choose my start-up disk? I can't remember the key or key combination.
Thank you,
Nancy

Resetting NVRAM / PRAM
Shut down your Mac.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
>>Turn on the computer.
>>>Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.
After resetting NVRAM or PRAM, you may need to reconfigure your settings for speaker volume, screen resolution, startup disk selection, and time zone information. If issues persist, your Mac's logic board battery (not a portable Mac's rechargeable battery) may need to be replaced. The logic board battery helps retain NVRAM/PRAM settings when your computer is shut down. You can take your Mac to a Mac Genius or Apple Authorized Service Provider to replace the battery on the logic board.
you don't press them at the same time as the power button, and it's Option, not shift

Startup with option key doesnt work; now I'm stuck a startup cd

Background: I wanted to defrag my hard drive. I tried to start up from a Norton SystemsWorks cd (using the option key). That didn't work, so I (stupidly!!!!) used the control panel to change the startup disk to the Norton CD.
Result:
1) I'm stuck. I cannot reboot from the hard drive or an external drive. The Norton CD has become a permanent default for startup. Under Norton, there is no access to the startup control panel. I cannot override it. Starting up using the option key doesn't work, nor do any other startup keystrokes I've tried. The CD overrides everything.
I cannot eject the CD. Tried holding down the mouse key and everything else I could think of, but those tricks don't seem to work when the disk is in use--which it always is because it's the startup disk.
Most annoying: The flat screen G4 has no manual mechanism for ejecting the CD!!! (ie, no little hole to inert a paper clip).
Any suggestions before I reach for a hammer?

Have you looked at this?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh1750.html
Once you get this disk ejected, don't ever ever use any Norton maintenance utility on a Mac! It's an almost universally held opinion of users here.
Regards,
Steve M.

PART 2 - cannot choose library with option key

Sorry everybody, must have been too long.
Here is the rest of it:
No difference. The new install even has the key words I created in it earlier.
I hope there is somebody out there with the patience to read through this whole tale and then maybe even has a solution for me to!
So in short:
- why does the option key not work any more
- is there a solution for it
- once that is fixed, how do I merge Libraries (1+2 is no problem, but how to add 3 and the camera batch without loosing key words, although to be honest, after all this just re assigning the key words seems a piece of cake)
Marlies

Hi Marlies,
So basically what you have are 4 libraries with different names all in the Pictures folder.
You want to join the libraries to create one library.
Problem: iPhoto is being a jerk and not letting you choose a library, even after you have chose each of the libraries before and they all worked.
Possible solution: Delete the Preference file and try again
Preference file
Possible solution: Download iPhoto Library Manager to mage the 4 libraries or even merge them
iPhoto Library Manager
iPhoto Library Manager documentation
this page will show you everything you can do with iPhoto Library Manager.
You can also try iPhoto Buddy
Possible solution: You can open one library and then use the menu command "add to library" .
So you open one library, then use the "add to library" command and then navigate to one of the libraries and choose it. Do this for each of the libraries. What will happen when you do this is outlined on Page 2
iPhoto Help
iPhoto Help 2

Unable to choose startup disk with "Option" key

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