Unable to choose startup disk with "Option" key

Question

Level 1

10 points

Unable to choose startup disk with "Option" key

I recently ran into this problem after installing Windows through Boot Camp. When I boot up my Mac and hold the "Option" key it just ignores it completely and flies right on into whatever OS I have selected as my startup disk.

It also will not work if I have a DVD or CD in the drive, and I noticed it is doing this even without a Windows partition.

Any ideas or help is appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Aaron

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.7), 15.4-inch; 2.16GHz Core Duo processor; 2GB of RAM; 320GB HDD; ATi X1600 Radeon

Posted on Jun 4, 2009 1:21 PM

Reply

Answer 1

V.K.

Level 9

56,174 points

Jun 4, 2009 2:07 PM in response to Aaron Ryan

sounds like a possible problem with the keyboard. try a different keyboard.

Reply

Answer 2

Aaron Ryan Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 6, 2009 6:56 AM in response to V.K.

Just using the "Option" key on my MacBook Pro works fine. Once it's booted the option key works perfectly fine, it just won't work for the boot loader.

It was working fine for the longest time, and now it only recently stopped working.

Reply

Answer 3

V.K.

Level 9

56,174 points

Jun 6, 2009 7:10 AM in response to Aaron Ryan

It was working fine for the longest time, and now it only recently stopped working.

that doesn't mean anything and there could still be a problem with the keyboard. try an external keyboard. also, try resetting PRAM
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

Reply

Answer 4

Aaron Ryan Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 6, 2009 7:52 AM in response to V.K.

Sorry, I should of clarified: I'm using an Apple external keyboard. My MacBook Pro is closed and connected to a Cinema Display. This is why I'm saying it was working fine before and recently has only stopped.

And I've reset the PRAM and that did nothing.

Reply

Answer 5

Jun 6, 2009 8:29 AM in response to Aaron Ryan

What happens if you disconnect the external keyboard and use the MacBook's option key during restart?

Reply

Answer 6

Aaron Ryan Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 6, 2009 2:51 PM in response to Bruce Etnyre

As I said above, it works fine.

I noticed this as well: none of the keys on the keyboard work when the machine starts up. I tried plugging the keyboard directly into the Mac instead of having, at I usually do, plugged into the Cinema Display and that didn't change anything.

I recently just took the machine in for repair and the replaced an I/O board, any chance that may have something to do with it? It was working fine before I had the repairs.

Reply

Answer 7

Jun 6, 2009 3:04 PM in response to Aaron Ryan

I misunderstood, I thought you were only using the external keyboard.

Can you try the external keyboard on another computer? If it works there, then you should probably go back to where it was repaired and show them the problem.

Reply