won't remember startup disk

Question

Level 1

26 points

won't remember startup disk

Every now and then my iMac forgets which is my startup disk.

I have two external drives attached.

I HAVE made the selection in system preferences many times, but occasionally, when I start up, instead of the apple, I get a blank screen. If I unplug the attached drives, the computer starts up properly. Then I plug the drives back in.

One of the external drives is bootable, but even when I leave that one turned off, the other drive which is NOT bootable but which is used as time machine backup (and doesn't have an on-off switch, so must be unplugged), seems to cause the same problem.

And yes, I've repaired permissions regularly...

Posted on Nov 23, 2012 3:30 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

239,465 points

Nov 23, 2012 4:44 PM in response to nowsthetime

Hi, if you just have the bootable one plugged in does it remember?

Are any of these Bus powered drives? No AC adapter?

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Answer 2

nowsthetime Author

Level 1

26 points

Nov 23, 2012 4:46 PM in response to BDAqua

I'll try starting up with just the bootable (tomorrow).

No bus powered.

Thanks. I'll report back.

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Answer 3

RRFS

Level 5

4,522 points

Nov 23, 2012 8:16 PM in response to nowsthetime

Click the lock in the Startup Drive pane of System Preferences.

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Answer 4

nowsthetime Author

Level 1

26 points

Nov 23, 2012 11:19 PM in response to RRFS

Very funny. Actually, it unlocks itself no matter how many times I lock it. I've checked for viruses. It's a mystery.

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

239,465 points

Nov 23, 2012 11:40 PM in response to nowsthetime

Hmmm,might try this...

Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, when done trash this file, then reboot & try it...

/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist

Reboot

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Answer 6

nowsthetime Author

Level 1

26 points

Nov 24, 2012 12:46 PM in response to BDAqua

Nope. When I started it up in Safe Boot should I not have logged in as myself?

Because I did.

Then I followed all your instructions.

Then reset the startup drive again to be my main, boot drive.

Restarted.

Opened system preferences. The dratted lock was open even tho I left it locked.

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Answer 7

BDAqua

Level 10

239,465 points

Nov 24, 2012 1:34 PM in response to nowsthetime

Hmmm, interesting, might try this...

Go to System Preferences: Security. Check the box next to "Require password to unlock each secure system preference." Then lock Security.

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Answer 8

nowsthetime Author

Level 1

26 points

Nov 25, 2012 12:43 AM in response to BDAqua

Thanks. I'm using mountain lion and that command doesn't exist in system prefs.

Just 'require password upon sleep or screensaver'. I've checked THAT, but can't imagine it'll do much more than annoy me. I do have automatic login. Could that be causing problems?

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Answer 9

nowsthetime Author

Level 1

26 points

Nov 25, 2012 10:48 AM in response to nowsthetime

No, that didn't help. When I turned on my computer it demanded my password which I gave. Then when I opened system prefs and looked at startup disc selection, the lock, which had been locked before I shut down was open (even tho at this point the internal boot drive was still the one selected.)

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Answer 10

BDAqua

Level 10

239,465 points

Nov 25, 2012 11:17 AM in response to nowsthetime

Looks like I'll have to boot into 10.8.2 one of these days to see the problem, not as bad as having to boot into Windows8, but still not an enjoyable experience.

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