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ALT key doesn't work to bring up boot screen

Pressing the ALT key at startup won't invoke the Bootcamp boot screen/menu...I'm stumped.

I'm using Bootcamp (ver. 3.x) on a new mac mini with Snow Leopard & Windows 7. I have all software updates applied and all necessary drivers installed in Windows.

I am using the Logitech USB keyboard that I've been using with my PC. Is that the problem? The ALT key on a PC keyboard should map to the ALT/Option key for the mac (to the best of my knowledge).

So, as a workaround I have to resort to choosing my startup OS via 'startup system' and 'Startup Disk' in WIndows 7 and Snow Leopard respectively. I'd like to get the boot menu working via the ALT key so I can switch to any OS right when starting up. I should add that I have seen this work successfully on another machine where I helped a friend install Windows via Bootcamp on their MacBook Air; so I am familiar with this process for the most part.

One last thing: I did see that another person on the forum had this problem, but in their case it seemed that their ALT key was working at first then at some point stopped. The advice was to do a PRAM-reset which they did and it fixed the problem. I actually tried that as well and that didn't solve my problem.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.2), using Bootcamp with Windows 7 32 bit

Posted on Dec 30, 2009 5:35 PM

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Jan 5, 2010 12:12 AM in response to Midnightblues94

Borrowed an extra keyboard from a friend (one of those Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 models) and the ALT key works as expected; I was able to get the boot screen immediately. So....I guess it's new keyboard time for me. I've been wanting to get a wireless one anyway.
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ALT key doesn't work to bring up boot screen

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