Cannot Do A Safe Boot In Mavericks

OK! I found the culprit: The firmware password protection

Enabling firmware password protection disables most of the keyboard shortcuts for starting up, such as holding the C key to start up from a DVD or start in Safe Mode or execute a PRAM Reset, etc..

I do not know how, but this protection was enabled, even if no password was required. I had to use the recovery mode to go uncheck this option and everything is back in order. 🙂

As of now there are some issues with certain mac computers booting to safe mode on OS X Mavericks and Apple is aware of the situation and investigating the issue as per the AppleCare advisor I spoke to. If your device is running on OS X Mavericks and have the following specifications, you might be affected.

- iMac Fusion Drives

- DIY Fusion Drives(Self installed SSD & fusion with internal HDD)

- Filevault enabled systems

The common thing about these systems is that it uses CoreStorage to partition the storage drives.

A fix will most likely come in a form of an EFI firmware update so look out for it.
You can view the list of EFI & SMC firmwares from http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1237

Fixed! after installing 10.9.2,

at least for me and my 27" iMac with fusion drive.

Same here, finally fixed! Update OS X 10.9.2 - iMac 21,5", fusion drive.

I confirmed 10.9.2 resolved this issue - running on MBP early 2011 DIY Fusion drive.

My Mac Mini with fusion drive now OK after 10.9.2 upgrade

Macbook Pro retina display with FileVault turned on. Could not do safe boot. After 10.9.2 upgrade, I can. 🙂

After upgrading to Mavericks latest release I am able to perform a safe boot.

I use a 27" late 2012 iMac with a 3TB fusion drive and I ugraded to 10.9.2 two days ago. I have I now can boot into safe mode however it must be done from a complete shutdown, restarting into safe mode does not work. I am happy there is now a way to get into safe mode. It is a basic troubleshooting tool.

Jay

I also have the 27" Late 2012 iMac with 3TB Fusion drive - and I am able to boot into Safe mode via "restart". I am, however, using a wired keyboard. Haven't had a chance to try it with the wireless keyboard. 10.9.2 has fixed the safeboot issue on all my Macs (including those with File Vault. I am very happy with this fix - so far.

I also have a late 2012 MacMini server with 2 1TB regular drives. It is using the apple wireless keyboard and has always had trouble with certain boot up key combinatons (such as option and cmd-r). I have always had to power it down completely to use those keys. I also have not tried it with a wired keboard - but I bet it would not have an issue.

~Scott

Safe boot works with wireless keyboard.

Thanks - I will try the wireless keyboard for safeboot on the iMac to see if it works. The Mac Mini is definitely picky about detecting boot option keys pressed on the wireless kbd during a restart vs a complete shutdown - and has been that way since day one.

there is something seriously wrong, and its sad to c now mac following the foot steps of windows ! my mac book pro kept going into safe boot, and after dealing with all remedies prescribed on web, i gave up and did a clean install, erased everything ! and started new. and guess what after 2-3 hr the same problem again.

It stsrats with Keyboard going into CONSTANT CAP LOCK, and then reboot in Safe Boot. AND no lonmg winded stories the machine just went through a clean install of maverick (from a USB) just to make sure !

but 😟 no luck.

i saw a post somewhere that sdaid that the graphics card is having issues with OS but ? am not sure. If the machince crashes after a brand new "Erase of Disk" and then format, and then CLean Install from a USB - then !! 😟

You seem to have a different issue from this thread here.

However if a clean installation is done and you are still having such issues, most likely this is a hardware fault.

If you have done at least SMC Reset + NVRAM Reset, my best bet is to bring it in to the nearest Apple Retail Store or an Apple Authorised Service Provider to have it diagnosed further.

I sure hope that your Macbook is still covered in Limited Warranty or you have the AppleCare Protection Plan.

Good Luck!