Startup option for access to firmware/BIOS

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Level 1

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Startup option for access to firmware/BIOS

Hi there, I know Macs don't use BIOS so I assume getting in to the Open Firmware is the same thing. I understand you use the CMD key (Apple Key) + OPT key (ALT Key) + O + F - this doesn't seem to work on my iMAC (which is also BootCamped running WinXP) - any ideas why I can't get this to work?..I can press down the ALT key which gives me the option to choose a boot partition but just can't get into Open Firmware - any ideas please?

iMac (Intel), Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Jun 21, 2007 1:48 PM

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Answer 1

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JasonG69 Author

Level 1

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Jun 22, 2007 12:46 AM in response to Kappy

Ahhh, I see!...thanks very much, now to the reasoning behind all this. I run bootcamp, but I want to change the date of the computer - on a PC you would change the time in the BIOS and this would therefore affect whichever partition you were booting in to. Would this be the same thing then, I get into the UNIX command line and then that would change the system time for my Windows partition as well?

Thanks very much for your help so far..

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

361,707 points

Jun 21, 2007 2:41 PM in response to JasonG69

That's because Intel Macs do not support Open Firmware rather they use EFI. To select a boot partition at startup after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears.

If you wish to access the Unix command line at startup you must press COMMAND-S after the chime and hold it until a black screen with white type appears.

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Answer 3

Jun 22, 2007 4:44 AM in response to JasonG69

Apple uses EFI, the future replacement for PC BIOS. EFI does not rely on BIOS settings, in fact, Apple does not have a traditional PC BIOS-style settings options. For setting the time, you do that inside of Windows (or any other OS) just like you would inside of the Mac OS.

EFI hopefully will replace PC BIOS in all future PCs, finally ridding the PC world of 1980s-style computing. Intel has already deployed EFI on their latest laptop line, so the trend is heading towards industry-wide EFI adoption.

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Answer 4

Jun 22, 2007 5:36 AM in response to JasonG69

It's stored in some non-volatile (well, there's a battery) memory. It's not necessary to have BIOS to store data in the system 😉

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Answer 5

Kappy

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Jun 22, 2007 3:23 PM in response to JasonG69

If you plan to change the date while in OS X then use the Date and Time preference. Otherwise you can use the Date and Time control panel in Windows after it boots. If you plan to use the command line via Terminal the command is 'date' without quotes. Run 'man date' for documentation.

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Answer 6

JasonG69 Author

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Jun 22, 2007 5:27 AM in response to Christopher Price

how does an OS know the date/time whilst being installed then?

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Answer 7

JasonG69 Author

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Jun 22, 2007 5:59 AM in response to William Lloyd

ok, so is it possible to set the system (PC BIOS equivalent) date/time in the future and then install an OS?

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Answer 8

Kappy

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Jun 22, 2007 10:10 AM in response to JasonG69

The Date and Time can be set using the Date and Time preferences in System Preferences. You can configure it to automatically control the date and time using a network time server.

All Macs have a built-in clock that is powered by either an internal battery (desktops and some laptops) or the main battery (laptops.) The information is stored in non-volatile RAM that is maintained by the battery. Your iMac's battery is located on the logic board.

There is no need to set the time through a BIOS such as you did with PCs. Mac hardware is quite different and has been for years in this regard.

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Answer 9

JasonG69 Author

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Jun 22, 2007 10:49 AM in response to Kappy

I appreciate what you're saying but I need to set the date/time at a lower level than the OS, so that Windows setup sees a different date...one specified normally in the BIOS but as Macs use EFI, then I guess I need to change it there?...if so, how?..

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Answer 10

Kappy

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Jun 22, 2007 10:56 AM in response to JasonG69

The problem with Windows seeing a different date and/or time is a problem with Windows or Boot Camp (perhaps you haven't installed the drivers from the Driver CD you would have burned during the Boot Camp installation.)

Have you used the Date and Time control panel in Windows to set up the date and time? It is supposed to sync with the internal date and time on the Mac hardware but there have been reports that the date and time display in Windows is not maintained properly. This is a bug and cannot be fixed by trying to tinker with the hardware. Have you installed the most recent Boot Camp software (1.3?)

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Answer 11

JasonG69 Author

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Jun 22, 2007 11:14 AM in response to Kappy

this is the bit i'm talking about changing: the internal date and time on the Mac hardware

I want the date to be in the future whilst I install Windows..

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Answer 12

Kappy

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Jun 22, 2007 11:26 AM in response to JasonG69

Why? It will be updated automatically. If you change the date and time it will also affect the same in OS X. You need to leave this alone because you cannot access the EFI ROM and there's really no need to do what you think you need to do. Macs are not PCs. It's important to get past that.

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Answer 13

JasonG69 Author

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Jun 22, 2007 1:36 PM in response to Kappy

lol..I understand but I need to do this as a temporary measure, it won't affect OSX as I won't boot into it until I have set the date back to normal - do you know the command to set the date?

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Answer 14

JasonG69 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 22, 2007 3:45 PM in response to Kappy

I want to change the date at a lower level than the OS - whilst I am going through the installation of Windows, I want the date to be in the future..therefore, the only place I can see this being done, is in the BIOS equivalent, which would be the EFI - now all I need is the syntax, date man isn't helping as it doesn't tell me how to set the date in full including the timezone etc..

Does anyone know the syntax for teh date command for EFI to make the date Fri Jun 22 19:12:28 BST 2097 for example?

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Answer 15

Kappy

Level 10

361,707 points

Jun 22, 2007 3:51 PM in response to JasonG69

You can't access the EFI ROM. You can set the date and time with the preferences, control panel, or command line. That's it, I'm afraid.

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