Richard Dickins
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Macbook startup keyboard shortcuts not working

My Mac formatted partition on my Macbook is corrupt so I am trying to boot from a disk in order to try and either repair the partition or to reinstall Mac OSX.

 

When I try and hold either alt or C nothing happens, it just attempts to boot as per usual with no visible change in the boot.

 

For information I have used the shortcuts before and they worked,

I am running OSX Lion,

I have a late 2011 MBP,

I am using the inbuilt keyboard (I have tried other keyboards),

If I hold alt it should give me the option to choose Lion Recovery, Bootcamp or Lion.

 

 

Thanks if anyone can help!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Sep 3, 2012 4:22 AM

Close
Richard Dickins

Q: Macbook startup keyboard shortcuts not working

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Previous Page 2

  • by Shootist007,Helpful

    Shootist007 Shootist007 Sep 3, 2012 5:41 AM in response to Richard Dickins
    Level 6 (16,660 points)
    Sep 3, 2012 5:41 AM in response to Richard Dickins

    What do you mean when you boot to Windows? How are you getting to Windows without using the Option key Boot.

     

    Was it selected from Startup disk in OS X? Or is it just booting to Windows as there is not bootable version of OS X on the drive?

     

    Whether or not the keyboard works once windows loads doesn't mean there isn't some type of problem with it when the system frist starts up. If there wasn't a problem with it, or a Logic board program, then the Option key boot, the command+r key boot and the Reset key commands would work.

     

    From what you've posted None of these keyboard commands work at all.

     

    HOLD DOWN Command+Option+r then press the power button. Continue to hold down those 3 key until you see a Spinning Globe in the center of the screen.

     

    If that does not work to boot the computer from the Internet recovery system (that is if your Mac was made in 2011 or later) then You Have a Keyboard or Logic Board problem. There is NO doubt about it.

  • by Richard Dickins,

    Richard Dickins Richard Dickins Sep 3, 2012 6:38 AM in response to Shootist007
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 3, 2012 6:38 AM in response to Shootist007

    It always boots to windows instead of booting to Mac OSX as it cannot boot from the OSX partition.

     

    None of the keyboard commands are working whatsoever, I tried holding Cmd + alt + r, it didn't work.

     

    Mac was made in 2011 so I will try the internet recovery system.

     

    Thanks for this you are being incredibly helpful by the way.

  • by Richard Dickins,

    Richard Dickins Richard Dickins Sep 3, 2012 6:47 AM in response to Shootist007
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 3, 2012 6:47 AM in response to Shootist007

    Ok, I just manage to eject a disk while at the grey screen after the chime so it does at least recognize commands at that stage.

  • by Richard Dickins,

    Richard Dickins Richard Dickins Sep 3, 2012 6:52 AM in response to Richard Dickins
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 3, 2012 6:52 AM in response to Richard Dickins

    Ok, I have determined it is a keyboard problem, I can eject disks through holding mouse click however when I hold eject it does not work.

  • by Shootist007,

    Shootist007 Shootist007 Sep 3, 2012 6:55 AM in response to Richard Dickins
    Level 6 (16,660 points)
    Sep 3, 2012 6:55 AM in response to Richard Dickins

    Was therer a CD/DVD disc in the SD all this time?

     

    If there was give the Command+Option+r key combo another try. By the way THAT IS the way to boot to the Internet recovery system when there is a recovery HD on the internal drive.

     

    EDIT:

     

    And you are Welcome.

  • by Richard Dickins,

    Richard Dickins Richard Dickins Sep 3, 2012 7:01 AM in response to Shootist007
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 3, 2012 7:01 AM in response to Shootist007

    Not the entire time no, but the DVD is bootable so should show up if I hold alt.

     

    Cmd + alt + R still doesn't work when the disk is out.

  • by thomasfromutrecht,

    thomasfromutrecht thomasfromutrecht Dec 29, 2014 1:01 PM in response to Richard Dickins
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Dec 29, 2014 1:01 PM in response to Richard Dickins

    i realise this is an old thread, but for the sake of other people googling this issue: i may have a solution.

     

    reason i ended up in this thread is because there doesnt seem to be anyone experiencing exactly this issue (lots of people have the ' i only see a cursor when i boot with alt pressed'-issue; which is usually related to a failing internal drive (ie: no recognized system at boot, no EFI folder/partition recognized)

     

    This issue is different in that it actually never reaches the EFI boot manager stage.

    This is caused by a 'call' for a drive that is not 'answered' ; in many cases a defective hard drive (doh.) but, to my surprise, can also be caused by an (intermittently) defective Optical Drive.

    Solution in my case: disconnect the optical drive (temporarily) and boot it up with Alt pressed.

    This should bring up the boot manager.

    This tells me the EFI system is waiting for the Optical drive to answer its call; which it never will, since it's defective.

     

    Give it a try (you might have to get dirty and open up the darned thing), i'm pretty confident this should solve your problem as well, seeing all the steps you have already tried. (i went through the exact same disappointment of following up everyone else's logical suggestions, all to no avail..)

     

    Good luck!

  • by Htoonlin,

    Htoonlin Htoonlin Mar 13, 2016 7:21 PM in response to Richard Dickins
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 13, 2016 7:21 PM in response to Richard Dickins

    i m facing same problem now in mac book pro 2011 early with Ei captain. I can't press any startup key and it is showin no bootable devices.

Previous Page 2