Questions about booting, the process of starting a computer and putting it into a state of readiness for operation.
2
votes
1answer
2k views
How do I install Linux on an Intel iMac with no OS nor CD drive
What I want:
Linux on an Intel iMac (Core Duo).
What I have:
An empty PC (17" Intel iMac) with broken CD drive. It's model A1173.
This PC with Ubuntu 12.04 and an old Windows Vista partition.
a ...
2
votes
1answer
330 views
Restored from Time Machine, no boot
I restored from a Time Machine backup onto a new HDD, this was using a disc with OS X Lion
Upon boot, in verbose mode, the text hangs after initpool: offset = 0x08000000 size = 0x0800000.
I would be ...
2
votes
2answers
497 views
What does a firmware password protect?
If I create a firmware password on my MacBook, what does that protect me from?
Does it protect from any of these:
Reformatting the hard drive.
Switching OS to boot from (e.g. if Boot Camp is ...
2
votes
2answers
8k views
Repair disk from single user mode (fsck fails)
Earlier today my 2009 iMac emitted I/O errors trying to copy files. So I ran disk utility, verify disk to see if anything was amiss. It was. But as it's my startup disk I couldn't repair it, so I ...
2
votes
1answer
7k views
How can I make a bootable Windows 7 usb in OSX Lion?
I want to make a bootable Windows 7 USB in OS X Lion. How can I do that?
2
votes
2answers
3k views
MacBook Pro (Lion) won't boot anymore
My MacBook Pro won't start up anymore. Here are the symptoms:
displays only folder with question mark icon on startup
when boot from Lion installation disk the disk utility program crashes. when i ...
2
votes
3answers
3k views
Macbook Pro (Late 2011) Bootcamp and USB boot questions
I have a Macbook Pro with an OWC DataDoubler drive caddy replacing the Superdrive (installed at an Apple premium reseller, when I bought it, so I can still have my warranty).
The main drive slot has ...
2
votes
2answers
8k views
How can I disable Safe Boot or the Shift Key?
After a spill on the keyboard of my unibody MBP 17", the ⇧ key reports as always on.
Under Windows (BootCamp) and Linux (LiveDVD) I can easily get around the problem by using an external ...
2
votes
2answers
773 views
Can I dual boot Snow Leopard and Lion?
I own a Mac Mini 3.1 with Snow Leopard installed. I would like to dual boot with Lion for development purposes.
I have partitioned my hardisk as described in Point (1) in this tutorial
How to ...
2
votes
5answers
3k views
In OS X 10.6 how do you mount an AFP share at boot or before user login?
Is there a way to mount an AFP share at boot so it is accessible to the system without a user logged in?
I would like to run scripts via SSH or as a daemon on boot that check files on my AFP share. ...
2
votes
1answer
233 views
unable to boot my Mac book after file vault 2 activation
after activation of file vault 2 I am unable to boot my computer, the apple sign turns into a prohibitory sign with a spinning circle beneath it , that spins forever. I really need the data on this ...
2
votes
2answers
776 views
After System Update last night, the system will not boot with IOPlatformExpert.cpp:1504 error
I have had Lion for a 2, 3 months on the iMac 27 inch purchased last October (2011). Last night I chose to update the system, and deselected iMoves update because it was 1GB, and chose only 4 ...
2
votes
1answer
624 views
How can I fix my GPT?
I just migrated from a 120 GB SSD drive to a 600 GB SSD drive. As I was lazy and didn't want to reinstall Mac OS X (Lion), I chose the following migration path:
I created at GPT on the 600 GB target ...
2
votes
1answer
546 views
Why does RAID 1 “Mirroring not provide performance improvements”?
I have always used Software RAIDs, either Apple-provided, or via SoftRAID, etc. I am about to re-zhuzh my arrays and decided to do a little research beforehand… and On Apple's site, there is a ...
2
votes
1answer
725 views
MacBook Pro 2010 won't boot after EFI upgrade
I have updated my MacBook Pro (Core i5, early 2010) with system update to new EFI version, and now after startup it just shows the gray screen and doesen't react on keyboard (just plays the boot ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
MacBook Pro appears to be completely dead and the charger is showing only a very dimmed green light
After doing a suspend I wasn't able to "revive" my early 2011 MacBook Pro.
MBP does not respond to: power, long-power, SMC reset or even battery test button.
the charger is showing a dimmed green ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
How do I prevent automatic mounting of all the partitions on a flash drive?
I have a flash drive that I use for various diagnostics on macs. Most of the partitions on the drive are accessible by holding down the option key on boot.
I also have one extra partition that is not ...
2
votes
1answer
443 views
How can I install Debian on a PowerBook G3 with Mac OS 9.2?
Today I started installing Debian Linux on an old Macintosh PowerBook G3 with Mac OS 9.2. After a long time of backing up old documents I erased the whole disk. At the end I just want Debian ...
2
votes
1answer
648 views
Always prompt for Boot Device on Startup?
I have a MacBook where I have to dual boot Windows and OS X. When I hold the Option Key on startup, I get the nice "Select Boot Device" screen.
Is there a way to permanently enable this, so that I ...
2
votes
3answers
315 views
Is there any way to see what OS X is doing when it's booting up when no chime is played? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can I see the system status during boot?
I have had the hard drive in my iMac replaced and now I'm trying to restore it from my TimeMachine back up. I thought the ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I boot in “Safe Mode” with rEFIt
I would like to boot safe mode but I can't because of my rEFIt.
Holding the Shift button at startup has no effect, I just get the rEFIt menu and OSX starts to boot normally.
any ideas how to do it?
...
2
votes
1answer
252 views
putting windows 7 on a flash drive using bootcamp
I'm thinking of changing to a new MacBook Pro 15" (the one with an 256GB SSD), 256GB is enough for my files and OS, but I also want to have about 50GB for a Windows 7 (BootCamp) partition. So, taking ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
2008 iMac Running OS X 10.8.2 Won't Boot
My 2008 iMac is having trouble booting—it never gets past the initial grey screen with the Apple logo and spinner. After letting it try to boot (spinner working) for upwards of 10 minutes, I'll get ...
2
votes
1answer
100 views
Has iOS Always had Secure Boot?
In Apple's recent iOS Security paper here
http://images.apple.com/ipad/business/docs/iOS_Security_May12.pdf
They speak about the Secure Boot Chain, my question is has iPhones/iPods/iPads always had ...
2
votes
2answers
842 views
How to distinguish multiple OS X installations from each other in the bootloader?
I read with interest this post about setting up a flash drive with multiple OS X installers. It confirms what I've suspected by my tests with just one OS (Lion).
However, a question occurred to me:
...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
Stop-sign after boot and “Still waiting for root device”
Need some advice regarding a problem starting up my Mac Mini (mid 2011).
The other day I was browsing websites when the machine froze with the spinning beachball. So I was forced to power off/on my ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Boot from USB on MacBook 1.1 (early 2007)
I’m trying to install Windows 8 from USB on my MacBook 1.1 (early 2007).
I have tried booting using rEFIt (on 10.6):
Partition my USB key as MBR: the Windows 8 logo fish stays stuck forever.
...
2
votes
1answer
430 views
Reboots hang. Cold Starts Boot on iMac 27" i7 (Mid 2010)
I've been having a problem with my iMac i7 (mid 2010) for quite awhile. Any kind of restart from a software update, or a user selected restart, causing the iMac to get stuck on the restart gray screen ...
2
votes
1answer
619 views
Why can't I no longer boot into my MacBook Air?
My MacBook Air (Late 2011) hangs during startup at the Apple logo, and the spinning cursor freezes.
I have booted into verbose mode and it hangs after the following messages:
com.parellels.kext.vnic ...
2
votes
1answer
393 views
MacBook Air dual boot Lion+10.6
Can a 2010 MacBook Air internal SSD be configured for the dual-boot of both Lion/10.7.x and Snow Leopard/10.6.x? If so, how much extra storage space is required for 2 boot partitions vs. one? Other ...
2
votes
1answer
274 views
Mac Book Pro 3,1 uneven startup behavior - sometimes start between 5min to 30min after pushing power button
First of all my Mac Book Pro wont start up after going to sleep mode - all black screen etc. When i choose power down from the menu - well it doesnt power down completely - the harddrive is still ...
2
votes
1answer
5k views
How do I boot my MacBook Air running Lion in safe mode?
I follow the instructions in http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1455 to boot in Safe Mode, but it appears something different happens with Lion. After holding the shift key when hearing the startup tone, ...
2
votes
1answer
242 views
2009 Mac Mini HDD as an External Drive for a 2011 Mac Mini HDD
I have a unique plan:
I have a 2009 Mac Mini mid-2009 with 10.6 OS X. I just got the 2011 Mac Mini with 10.7. But I am planning to use the hard drive from the 2009 Mac Mini with 10.6 OS X as an ...
2
votes
1answer
196 views
Suppress load screen when using rEFIt?
I have rEFIt installed. Is there any way to choose a default OS to launch which would in turn suppress the load screen from showing up when you start up the computer?
I'm looking for a way to make ...
2
votes
0answers
40 views
How can I tell OSX NOT to mount some of the drives in my computer?
I have a Mac with a Windows drive that I occasionally boot to. Most of the time, I'm using the Mac, and the Windows disk always mounts and shows up on the desktop. I would like to keep it from showing ...
2
votes
1answer
90 views
FreeBSD Install DVD corrupted my Mac OS X harddisk
Recently, I have tried a FreeBSD 7.4 i386 Install DVD, just to see some screens of FreeBSD on my Mac mini Intel 2006. I was going to see (to remember) just several dialog screen of and perhaps I would ...
2
votes
1answer
239 views
Apple powerbook G4 17" Trying to install Linux
I believe followed the directions on how to create a bootable USB drive from the Ubuntu website. My question is how can I get my Powerbook to boot from the USB drive? I tried doing the ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
MacBook Pro running OS X lion stuck on boot screen
My MacBook is stuck on the boot screen like this:
I have tried multiple things such as launching it in safe mode and pressing some buttons as soon as the computer boot logo shows up.
2
votes
0answers
624 views
Macbook Pro hangs when booting into Boot Camp Windows 7
I have a 2011 Macbook Pro 15" 10.7.4 with Windows 7 installed in Boot Camp. A few days ago, I tried to boot into Windows 7 and it just froze after I selected the Boot Camp volume on the Select Drive ...
2
votes
2answers
555 views
2008 MacBook Pro Blinking Folder icon
I have a friend with a ~2008 MBPro which has seemingly hit the hay. I'm not 100% it's 2008, but I think so. It has magnetic power cord--the square one.
Anyway, as soon as it turns on, there is the ...
2
votes
0answers
269 views
Windows will not boot after a restart of my Mac Pro, only after a cold shutdown and startup
I am currently experiencing a very strange issue regarding booting into Windows 7 64-bit (installed on its own 1TB HDD). If I restart my Mac Pro, hold down the option key, and select my Windows ...
1
vote
5answers
1k views
My mac has 64-bit EFI, but it only boots with 32-bit kernel
I followed the guide at
http://macperformanceguide.com/SnowLeopard-64bit.html
to boot into 64-bit mode. I had no problems with the instructions and on the boot screen it says "PAE enabled, 64bit mode ...
1
vote
2answers
95 views
Are “Extensions” something that disappeared many Mac OS versions ago?
On a sheet of Mac keyboard shortcuts for booting, one of them says, "hold down shift while booting and the computer will not load login items or extensions".
Am I wrong, or are Mac OS "extensions" ...
1
vote
2answers
736 views
New hard drive not recognized
I swapped the original 80 GB hard drive for a new 640 GB Samsung HM64JI hard drive.
It is not recognized after booting from the 10.5 Installation DVD on Macbook 2.1 with recent EFI updates installed.
...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
Mac OS: Some apps (mostly java) are very slow at first loading
System: Macbook Pro Duo 2.4Ghz, 4GB, Snow Leopard
I first encountered this problem when running eclipse. When I first run it after every reboot or waking up, it painfully takes > 7 min to load. The ...
1
vote
1answer
132 views
How does Apple achieve such an ultra fast boot up?
I'm a recent Mac user (MBP) and the booting time really surprises me.
Within few seconds, from complete power down, the OS prompts you to log in, then the rest just flies!
And even faster recovery ...
1
vote
1answer
166 views
Do the new macbook pro models (2011) still have a 4 partition limit?
If I remember correctly, the older Macbook pro models (pre 2011) had a 4 partition limit: so, if you tried to install multiple operating systems, you had this limit.
Do the new models (2011) still ...
1
vote
2answers
7k views
Mac Pro: Any way to recognize a bootable USB on startup?
I have a Mac Pro 2,1 2x6-Core Xeon@2.66 GHz and am trying to boot from several ISO images written to USB sticks. I have tried the dd-based methods as recommended by Ubuntu, with no luck. In every case ...
1
vote
2answers
427 views
How to remove boot from MacMini?
I have tried installing windows 7 on my MacMini.
I followed following steps.
Setup went perfectly But while installing I thought of not installing it.
So, I just restarted mac mini.
Pressed Alt ...
1
vote
2answers
32 views
Macbook Air not waking up from Suspend/Sleep with rEFInd boot manager installed
Having installed both rEFInd 0.6.10 (updated to 0.6.11) via its install.sh and Ubuntu 13.04 on another partition I can now choose on a MacBook Air to boot either MacOS or Linux.
When running MacOS ...
