Mar
24
2008
Boot Option Workaround for (Slightly) Old Mac Users with Aluminum Keyboards

image If you have an older Intel Mac and decided to get a shiny new aluminum Apple keyboard, AND you use Boot Camp, you’re in for a bit of disappointment (as I was).  Without any official acknowledgement from Apple, older Macs are NOT entirely compatible with their fancy new keyboard, as they do not send power to it at boot time.  What does this mean? Well, it means you cannot hold down the Option key to switch boot disks.  You also can’t hold down the “C” key to boot from CD in time of crisis.

I went to the Genius Bar with this problem, and they admitted this problem and had pretty much nothing to offer me, except to let me return the keyboard, if I had my receipt.  Thanks, guys.  I guess the ultra-minimalist keyboard packaging doesn’t give you much room for a “Not actually compatible with all Macs, use at own risk” warning.

Of course, one workaround is to always use “Startup Disk” (or the “Boot Camp” Control Panel option on the Windows side), but a fat lot of good that will do you if you bollox your Windows installation, and can’t even get it to boot (which happened to me, and started this whole adventure).  Another workaround is to grab an old keyboard out of my garage and use that whenever you need to change startup disks.  But I don’t really want you rooting around in my garage.

Anyway, enough cursing the darkness.  Here’s your candle: Somewhere in this thread on the Apple forums, a simple workaround is offered: You can use the Apple Remote to switch boot disks! Just aim at the box, hold down the Menu button while booting, and voila:  Wireless boot disk selecting magic.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 24th, 2008 at 10:23 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Response to “Boot Option Workaround for (Slightly) Old Mac Users with Aluminum Keyboards”

  • The aluminum keyboard is pretty, but I don’t like how Apple is moving around the keys for dashboard, expose, and overriding function keys with iTunes commands for play/pause prev/next (that’s what space and the arrow keys are for). On a laptop of course you need multifunction keys (and at least F12 and F11 are normal on my MacBookPro), but with a desktop keyboard please don’t cram too many functions on the same keys.

    It may be a little ugly and beige, but I love the Keyovation Goldtouch that I reviewed on my blog: http://nathanbowers.com/reviews/goldtouch-keyboard-review/

    BTW, love your StealMyIdea category Jeff, there are so many things I would love other people to implement for me :)

    Nathan Bowers 3/29/08 @ 5:46 pm

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