Unable to reset NVAM El Capitan

Covered, going on nine months+ ago. Never heard back so if Unit had

hardware failure, hopefully a visit to 'genius' or AASP was forthcoming...

Original thread author suggested attempted use of USB keyboard earlier...

...so this is why I suggested attempting other known-good USB keyboards

and different ports, including another on the computer itself.

After occasional revisits here, soon to be fourteen years ~ I'm not that slow yet.

But high-cost internet options here now are almost as slow, as dialup was then.

Good luck & happy trails! 🙂

You may be able to reset the NVRAM via the Command Line. I've not done this.

• How to View and Clear the Mac NVRAM contents from Terminal in OS X:

http://osxdaily.com/2015/12/16/view-clear-nvram-mac-command-line-osx/

search results, with command line Terminal info:

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=OS+X+reset+NVRAM+using+command+line&t=ffsb&ia=qa

Have you tried restart in Safe mode to troubleshoot, to see if the symptoms go away?

• Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support

Another reset that may be able to help in what is affected, is the SMC reset:

• Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

There also may be some third-party applications extensions or parts that are affecting

the OS X in some odd way. Sometimes using the Safe mode booting can help for use

in troubleshooting since it stops some items from loading in that mode.

Curious. I wonder if there isn't some third party or other problem; some error audio alerts

mean something or another, or could suggest a specific cause. I'm not certain just what.

PS: I note this thread had started out in Photos for Mac, now it's been moved to Mavericks

yet your title says El Capitan. Closer, yet it failed to arrive.

Good luck! 🙂

If you have a second USB keyboard (preferably an Apple) you could try the NVRAM reset;

not sure if you have a wireless keyboard, a bad connection with USB keyboard or what.

Usually once the actual reset chime occurs, you can let it re-chime up to three times. I do.

Since I have spare keyboards, my choice would be to try another known good example.

Or if USB, try another port on the computer. Especially helpful to try USB if using bluetooth.

Sometimes the amount of time it takes to try & get to the keys and hold them down before

the first chime, is too long. So the computer will start up past the point of NVRAM working.

The keyboard at least can be positioned to a better location to attempt to use keys sooner.

{What was the symptom you sought to alleviate with the NVRAM reset?}

Good luck! 🙂

The one thing everyone seems to omit is that you must have your USB keyboard plugged directly into a USB port on your Mac and NOT through an external USB hub.