I am running 10.5.8 OS. Have discovered that in some programs, Photoshop for one, the option key no longer does what is required in that program. I purchased a new keyboard and had the same problem. Any ideas?
iPhone 3G, iOS 5.1.1
TRy holding the OPtion key down when booting up, does that bring up Startup Manager?
Thanks. I tried two times, no Startup Manager. Any other ideas?
Does the Option key work for anything?
Have you looked through System Preferences>Keyboard & Muse>Keyboard Shortcuts?
Doesn't appear to work for anything. I have checked the System Preferences...no help.
To see if it's Software, boot off your Install Disc holding the c key...
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at the top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Utilities.
Try Option+some key in some utility, maybe Terminal.
My keyboard has 2 Option keys. Are both inop?
Boot in Safe Mode. See What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode? (Mac OS X)
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107392 Takes a while to run, but it usually "fixes" some problems.
Safe Boot takes longer than normal startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1884?viewlocale=en_US
Cheers, Tom 😉
Yes, both option keys are not working. thanks Tom. I tried the safe boot and then opened Photoshop. The option keys still do not work.
BDAqua,
I followed your suggestion. I received a message when I tried to do a disk repair that said the drive could not be unmounted. I went to the menu and clicked Unmount drive. I received the same message.
Still no option keys.
Hmmm, & this was booted off the Install CD/DVD?
Yes it was booted from the Install CD. Thank you for your thoughts. I appreciate it.
Well, If while booted from the Install Disc, and in say Terminal you typed Option+r & saw r instead of \302\256 & hitting enter didn't show ®, then it has to be some bizarre Hardware problem I think.
Hi!
i have the same problem with the option-key generally and specifically in photoshop.
Did you solve your problem?
Could you please help me?
Thanks!
Hi, I can try, but you'd likely get more help starting a new question, this new forum layout is really slow & painful for me to try to help anymore.
We'd need to know OSX version, maybe which exact Mac. 🙂
Hey, thanks!
i'll open a new question:)
the osx version is 10.9.4
and where do i get informed which exact mac is it?
To find out which Mac you have go to Apple menu/ About this Mac/ System information.
If you cannot find it there try MacTracker/ This Mac.
My option key has stopped working on my emac
