Appendix F. The Master Mac OS X Keystroke List

Here it is, by popular, frustrated demand: The master list of every secret (or not-so-secret) keystroke in Mac OS X, including all of the keys you can press during startup. Clip and post to your monitor—unless, of course, you got this book from the library.

The Master List

Startup Keystrokes

Keys to Hold DownEffect
CStart up from a CD
DStart up from the first partition
N Start up from network server
TPuts the Mac into FireWire Target Disk mode
XStarts up in Mac OS X (if 9 is on the same disk)
ShiftPrevents startup items from opening
OptionShows icons of all startup disks, so you can choose one for starting up.
Startup Keystrokes-Option-Shift-DeleteStarts up from external drive (or CD)
Startup Keystrokes-Option-P-RZaps the parameter RAM (PRAM). (Hold down until second chime.)
Startup Keystrokes-Option-O-FBrings up Open Firmware screen.
Startup Keystrokes-VShow Unix console messages during startup
Startup Keystrokes-SStart up in single user mode
mouse downEjects a stuck CD or DVD
ShiftJust after powering up: turns off kernel extensions (see ...

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