Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Startup manager problem

I still don't get the startup manager. All I get is a wifi network drop down menu, and it doesn't even have my wifi as an option. When I connect to the neighbor's, it still doesn't give me anything bu the wifi drop down menu. Any ideas??

Mac mini (Mid 2010)

Posted on Jul 8, 2012 3:36 PM

Reply
7 replies

Jul 8, 2012 3:58 PM in response to Animado4

To clarify: I'm getting the grey screen with the flashing folder with a question mark. I looked online and saw that the startup manager was accessed by pressing the option key during power up. I did that and got a blank grey screen with a drop down menu to select a wifi network and nothing else. I chose a network and nothing else happened.


Any ideas how to access the startup manager?

Sep 26, 2012 6:07 AM in response to Animado4

The flashing folder with the question mark means that

the bootloader cannot find a valid system volume to

boot from on the machine.


Unless there is an OSX system server on the network,

you won't see anything to boot from over the network.


What you may need to do is a PRAM reset

(http://support.apple.com/kb/PH4405) to get the bootloader

to see the HDD, assuming that there is a working system

on the drive. It says its for Lion, but it is the same instructions

for all Intel Macs.

Sep 26, 2012 6:10 AM in response to batousan

batousan wrote:


I have the exact problem on mine at this very moment, it goes straight to startup manager. I want to get to disk utility and recover/erase/format if necsessary. Any ideas why you wouldn't get the option?

If you are seeing drives that are selectable and using

Lion or Mountain Lion, select the Recovery HD. If

you are using an earlier OS, insert the install DVD

select and start it, an when it comes up, select

Disk Utilities from the Utilities menu.

Sep 26, 2012 6:34 AM in response to woodmeister50

Sorry I got that completely wrong it goes straight to Internet recovery when I boot holding either the option/alt key or command-r. It doesn't ever see startup manager options.


I'm using Mountain Lion on a 13" Early 2011 MBP.


There is no sound from the hard drive so wonder if its either dead or has no power.


I've tried the reset (command option p +r) to no avail.

Sep 26, 2012 2:17 PM in response to Animado4

I went in to the Apple Store and had them check it out. Turned out that the hard drive was fried. Had to swap it out. I still have the hard drive and am looking into trying to put the disk in another enclosure to try and save/recover my files on there.


I'd say just bring it to a genius bar and have them check it out. Might save you some trouble.

Sep 27, 2012 2:06 AM in response to Animado4

To both of you for future reference, get yourself a USB

memory stick, partition it with GUID partition map and

use Apple's Recovery Assistant to create a bootable

external Recovery HD.


You can get it here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1433


It is an invaluable tool when running into booting

issues with internal drives.


You'll be able to boot it using the option key

and selecting it, then you can run disk utility from it

to see if drive is dead or just horribly corrupted.

Startup manager problem

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.