Mac OS X Start Up Keys
November 28, 2007
I often search around trying to find the various ways to boot OSX in a special sort of way. I’ve especially needed these sort of things lately, as I had a brand new hard drive die on me.
You can hold any of the following to access any of these special boot modes:
C - Boot from the internal optical drive (CD or DVD)
D - Boot the diagnostic volume of the install DVD
N - Start from the Network (NetBoot)
R - Force PowerBook screen reset
T - Boot into Firewire target disk mode
X - Reset startup disk selection and boot into Mac OS X Server
Shift - Boot into “Safe Boot” mode, which runs Disk First Aid. A reboot will be required afterward.
Option - Boot into “Startup Manager”
Mouse Button - Eject (internal) removable media
Command-S - Boot into Single User Mode (command line)
Command-V - Boot using “Verbose” mode (shows all kernel and startup console messages)
Command-Option-Shift-Delete - Bypass internal hard drive on boot and seek a different startup volume (such as a CD or external disk)
Command-Option-P-R - Reset Parameter RAM (PRAM) and non-volatile RAM (NVRAM)
Command-Option-O-F - Boot into “Open Firmware”
Rumor has it, firmware password protection can be removed by intalling or removing a stick of RAM, then zapping the PRAM three times in a row.
These bootup options were compiled from Apple and this blog.
Tags: apple, boot, boot cd, bootup, command, diagnostic, firmware, mac, macos, net boot, open firmware, option, os x, osx, parameter ram, pram, ram, single user, startup, target disk, verbose
Comments
97 Responses to “Mac OS X Start Up Keys”
Got something to say?

Yes, indeed you can remove OF password by changing the RAM configuration and resetting NVRAM (once is enough :). PRAM disappeared years ago when Apple switched to a NVRAM boot ROM.
I think there are a couple more, will check out my docs and let you know. (I started the OF team back in 1995 and managed the group)
Auj22g hi great site thx http://peace.com
F8JF4p hi nice site thx http://peace.com
great work man thx
FjoWE6 f76fgb6gb0nb07r70xngm7bx
i’m fine good work dirty dancing tickets glyii
Gloomy tales rolex replica computer face dial :-(
Best Site good looking dirt cheap tickets to las vegas 6660
real beauty page rbsinsurance deteriorate nth
amazing site
http://www.kinkerbell.com
perfect design thanks fuckpic :P
Good crew it’s cool :) newgienudes dufvf
It’s serious dragon fucking a girl 498871
this is be cool 8) dirt cheap airline and hotel 780
Best Site good looking cheap hotels in madrid spain 438
Very funny pictures cheap hotel rooms nyc 49413
Thanks funny site cheap international hotels dubai otg
It’s funny goodluck cheap hotels in green bay 461433
Best Site good looking cheap hotels in san diego tks
Gloomy tales cheap air and hotel tickets 601
It’s funny goodluck hotels near texas stadium cheap 8PP
the-first-lesbian-sex.info :-DDD
Cool site goodluck :) hardcore
8-[
Cool site goodluck :) fuck my wife videos xfejk
Wonderfull great site old bitches
347342
good material thanks freeporno ymrmcl
good material thanks sweden porn pictures and galleries 8-PPP
Jonny was here fat asian porn 97199
perfect design thanks black porn sites prcj
Cool site goodluck :) free under age porn exx
Wonderfull great site hard core porn films dct
Very funny pictures free porn thumbnail pics posts 2704
I’m happy very good site malaysia airline ticket 7544
This site is crazy :) africa airline ticket 46628
Punk not dead teen nick 8(((
Best Site Good Work hardcoreteens =PPP
real beauty page law scholarships for teens twm
airline discount tickets 848712
Of83gC fv9db5dgbn3207vybfv5
Very interesting tale maleanalsex =O
Thanks funny site personalized adult porn sdfx
Best Site good looking cartoon girls porn 40322
Punk not dead dan worth childporn :-]
Excellent work, Nice Design free smoking porn video site vhu
It’s funny goodluck audlt porn :-[[[
perfect design thanks sailer moon porn %[[
perfect design thanks gang bang porn >:]
losculos mas sexis de porno uwx
this post is fantastic xxx ultimate black porn 8)
i’m fine good work fee 20porn tns
this is be cool 8) mary kate and ashley porn >:-PP
Cool site goodluck :) porn disney 892
Jonny was here child pornography films 4874
good material thanks free illegal porn %-))
Very Good Site daddy daughter porn 55660
Punk not dead inuyasha porn salojy
good material thanks adult porn 58879
Punk not dead free 20porno 20pics %-))
Jonny was here lolita porn pics bbs vybq
Best Site Good Work online reservation cheap hotel in panama
425
Best Site Good Work york city malaysia hotel bangkok cheap 8PP
This site is crazy :) vegas cheap hotels in near
iilpy
good material thanks de janeiro hotel orlando cheap hotels 02797
It’s funny goodluck square meter athens and greece and lisbon and portugal not hotel or motel cheap orlando hotels oopxr
perfect design thanks lumpur cheap hotel rooms ghent 9386
Very interesting tale centre htm cheap
uqym
Good crew it’s cool :) downtown los angeles hotels cheap hotels stockholm rizs
real beauty page diego cheap hotels htm cheapest hotel reservation lexington 9884
Good crew it’s cool :) manchester cheap
8-PPP
Best Site good looking hotels and flights to eurodisney paris cheap newport kentucky
upscle
very best job rooms in calgary cheapest hotel deals chicago 407
this is be cool 8) rate cheap vacations to ventura discount hotel air =OOO
It’s funny goodluck cheap cheap vegas hotel world cruises yawogq
Excellent work, Nice Design cheap cheap hotel
>:DDD
i’m fine good work hotel lake district cheapest air travel cancun hotel :-DD
i’m fine good work year cheap cheap hotels near concord nh 8-]
i’m fine good work flights hotels cheap hotels in whistler bc oveail
Gloomy tales the strip las vegas cheapest hotel near warner theater :-OOO
Very interesting tale oceanfront hotels waikiki beach new york city hotels cheap discount aguljz
real beauty page hotel near osu cheap london
94976
Hello good day hotels in burlington vermont cheap and discount hotels
=]
Very Good Site rates cheap hotels in pigeon forge or severivlle tennessee trjfjt
magic story very thanks flights hotels spain cheap hotels in
cjmmfl
very best job sc cheap hotels newport ri 541
Thanks funny site sex with porn stars >:-] brooklyn porn ufsj
perfectpo
>:-((( masturbatingpornstars 8(((
Very Good Site preteen nudes zxrdn
Wonderfull great site first class airline tickets cheap international flights 188266
It’s serious sweet
>:-)) great summer opportunities
aiwxo
Wonderfull great site cheap tickets from canada to costa rica 573
This site is crazy :) teenage kiss kzi eighteenth century rgy
Very Good Site cheap tickets from nairobi kenya to dallas texas jqk
Very Good Site cheap airline tickets nvjji
This site is crazy :) cheapest airline tickets flights kluouf
I’m happy very good site traci lords teen >:-P teen books 49754
this is be cool 8) lolita porn blogs 44660
Punk not dead lesbian girls fucking kmcm