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User profile for user: VintageFreak
VintageFreak Author
User level: Level 1
26 points

Recovery Mode with Windows Keyboard

I know this question has been asked before in a variety of ways. For past 2 days I've been struggling with this. I have a variety of issues with my iMac 8,1 I need to fix and simply have to enter Recovery Mode.


My problem is I don't have an Apple Keyboard. So using Windows USB keyboard. I've combed the forums and the internet and ready "Command+R", "Alt+R", on windows "Command" is "ALT", then sometimes "Command" is "Ctrl". I've tried every dang combination after hearing the start up chime. I have done "Restart" vs "PowerDown + Press Button". There is nothing I have not tried.


Someone please, PLEASE help me out. Anyone out there with an iMac 8,1 if you please use Windows Keyboard, enter Recovery mode and tell me exactly what you did. I don't have any hair left to pull.


Thanks in advance for your time and help.

Posted on Dec 22, 2018 7:41 PM

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User profile for user: VintageFreak
VintageFreak Author
User level: Level 1
26 points

Posted on Dec 23, 2018 6:58 AM

"Windows" key is same as "Command" key. Copy that, even if you search you will also here "ALT" key and "CTRL" key instead. I will say to get the "boot" menu "Alt" works which would suggest it is the "Command" key.


Regardless, I tried "Windows" + "R". I tried with restart, with shutdown then power button, holding before chime, holding after chime, holding till Apple Logo/animation.


It is as if the computer is simply ignoring. Can anyone confirm the keystroke? Is it just "R" or is it "P" and "R" both (not to say I haven't tried).


Finally here's dump from diskutil. I do have a recovery partition (in case that matters) = "Apple Boot"


/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):


   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER


   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *240.1 GB   disk0


   1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk0s1


   2:                  Apple_HFS Macintosh HD            239.2 GB   disk0s2


   3:                 Apple_Boot                         650.0 MB   disk0s3




/dev/disk1 (internal, physical):


   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER


   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *4.0 TB     disk1


   1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk1s1


   2:                  Apple_HFS Storage HDD             4.0 TB     disk1s2

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User profile for user: VintageFreak
VintageFreak Author
User level: Level 1
26 points

Dec 23, 2018 6:58 AM in response to dialabrain

"Windows" key is same as "Command" key. Copy that, even if you search you will also here "ALT" key and "CTRL" key instead. I will say to get the "boot" menu "Alt" works which would suggest it is the "Command" key.


Regardless, I tried "Windows" + "R". I tried with restart, with shutdown then power button, holding before chime, holding after chime, holding till Apple Logo/animation.


It is as if the computer is simply ignoring. Can anyone confirm the keystroke? Is it just "R" or is it "P" and "R" both (not to say I haven't tried).


Finally here's dump from diskutil. I do have a recovery partition (in case that matters) = "Apple Boot"


/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):


   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER


   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *240.1 GB   disk0


   1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk0s1


   2:                  Apple_HFS Macintosh HD            239.2 GB   disk0s2


   3:                 Apple_Boot                         650.0 MB   disk0s3




/dev/disk1 (internal, physical):


   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER


   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *4.0 TB     disk1


   1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk1s1


   2:                  Apple_HFS Storage HDD             4.0 TB     disk1s2

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Recovery Mode with Windows Keyboard

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