Appendix A. Command Key Combinations
Commands for Mac OS 9.x and below
|
Disable extensions at startup: |
Shift while booting, keep pressing to also disable startup items |
|
Open Extensions Manager at startup: |
Spacebar while booting |
|
Close all open windows: |
Option while Finder loads (can fix weirdness) |
|
Rebuild Desktop: |
 -option while booting (but read the question about this) |
|
Zap PRAM (restore defaults)—System 6: |
-option-shift while opening Control Panel |
|
Reset Applevision Display (v1.52 or later): |
-option-a-v while booting |
Commands for Mac OS 9.x and below and for Mac OS X
|
Startup Manager (most recent Macs): |
Option while booting, allows you to choose which volume to boot from if you have more than one startup volume or CD |
|
Boot from CD-ROM (most recent Macs): |
“c” while booting |
|
FireWire Target Mode |
“t” while booting |
|
Ignore internal hard disk drive: |
-option-shift-delete while booting (some Macs ignore selected startup device) |
|
Zap PRAM (restore defaults)—System 7 and up: |
-option-p-r while booting |
|
Force Quit current application: |
-option-escape (In OS 9 ... |
Get Macintosh Troubleshooting Pocket Guide for Mac OS now with the O’Reilly learning platform.
O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.
