Boot Keys for Mac OS X System Start

Here’s a list of system startup hot keys to press while Mac OS X is booting, and their various effects:

• C – Boot from a CD/DVD
• T – Boot in Target Disk mode (FireWire only)
• N – Boot from an attached network server (NetBoot mode)
• X – Attempt to force Mac OS X to boot
• Shift – Boot up in ‘Safe Mode’ which has limited functionality
• Command+V – Boot into Verbose mode
• Command+S – Boot in Single user mode

I find myself using target disk mode, boot from cd, and verbose mode all relatively frequently in Mac centric IT work.