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Stupid Mac Keyboard Tricks

Jenni X -- Blog - Mac Stuff PDF Print E-mail
In Macintosh-land there are many many keyboard shortcuts, and some of them are very, very obscure. The list below is one I compiled for my own reference. Don't use it for evil. :)
  • Command = "cmd" = "Apple Key"= "squiggley flower key"= "the key just to the left (and sometimes right) of the space bar"
  • Control = CTRL = "the third key left of the space bar"
  • Option = ALT = "the second key left of the space bar"
  • Italics - things that work during the boot sequence
Old Mac tricks (don't work with many new machines)
  • x -- Will boot into Mac OS X if 9 and X are on the same partition and that's the partition you're booting from.
  • cmd-opt -- Hold down until 2nd chime, will boot into Mac OS 9
  • cmd-opt -- Hold during boot, rebuilds desktop
  • cmd-opt-t-v -- Force Quadra AV machines to use TV as a monitor
  • cmd-opt-x-o -- Boot from ROM (Mac Classic only)
  • cmd-opt-a-v -- Force an AV monitor to be recognized as one
  • Option-Command-Shift-Delete during startup - Bypass primary startup volume and seek a different startup volume (such as a CD or external disk)
  • Space Bar = Loads Extensions Manager before starting extensions across your screen
  • Option = Closes all Finder windows
  • cmd -- (Classic only) Boot with Virtual Memory off
  • Shift = Extensions Off
  • Option + Command + Tab as inserting disk = Initializing Disk
  • Option + Command + Tab = Erase floppy
  • Option + Command + Open Chooser = clears Chooser cache

Mac Tricks (works with pretty much any machine)
  • Single key tricks
    • Tab in save dialog box = switches disks to save onto
    • Shift five times = enables Easy Access Control Panel
    • Mouse Button at start up = Ejects floppy with system before system load starts (older systems, obviously)
    • Tab = Highlights icon to icon
    • R = Restart
    • C = Start up from a CD
    • N - Attempt to start up from a compatible network server (NetBoot)
    • R - Force PowerBook screen reset
    • T - Start up in FireWire Target Disk mode
    • Shift - start up in Safe Boot mode and temporarily disable login items and non-essential kernel extension files (Mac OS X 10.2 and later)
    • D -- Force the internal hard disk to be the startup device
    • Z -- Attempt to boot using the devalias zip from first bootable partition found
    • Option - Select a startup disk (on some computers)
    • Mouse Button - Eject removable disks
    • Shift = Hold down immediately after the startup tone, and release when you see the progress bar - in Safe Mode
    • Shift during progress bar - Prevent startup items from opening
  • Command + tricks
    • V = Verbose mode (console message) shows why computer is hanging
    • S = in Single-User mode
      • then fsck
      • then sudo diskutil repair_permissions
      • then sudo update_prebinding -root / -force
    • . (period) - Open the CD tray when selecting a startup disk (on some computers)
  • Option + tricks
    • double click on folder = closes the window the folder resides
    • click on desktop or other application = hides the current application after switch
    • click on the date = turns clock on and off
    • about this Macintosh = about the finder
    • empty trash = trashes locked items without asking
    • window shade = window shade all open windows
    • collapse window = collapses all windows
    • save = saves all
    • print = print all
    • double click on connected user in file sharing monitor = send message
    • dragging item to another directory or desktop = copy to new location
    • resize window box = full screen view
    • eject = eject and leave behind
    • arrow keys + desktop picture control panel = Moves desktop picture
    • number keys = Highlight the last alphabetical item
  • Command + Option + tricks
    • Escape = Force Quit
    • P + R = Zaps the PRAM
    • Shift + Delete = Forces start up drive to go off-line and start up off another drive with blessed system
    • click Expand box = Expands window full screen
    • Power = Force Sleep
    • Power + Shift = Force Shutdown
    • Memory Control Panel = Memory Test Option
    • Control + Shift + Apple Menu = About MacOS Team
    • space bar = non breaking words (when typing)
    • Mouse Drag = Create Alias where mouse button is released
    • O-F  - goes into Open Firmware screen - type these lines:
      • reset-nvram
      • set-defaults
      • reset-all
        • clears NVRAM etc and restarts computer
      • also to eject a CD (at a different time)
        • eject-CD
      • then 
        • mac-boot
    • shift-delete-# -- Boot from a specific SCSI ID # (# = SCSI ID number)
    • n-v -- Clear NV RAM. Similar to reset-all in Open Firmware.
 
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