Mac won't startup after attempt to use Bootcamp

-Led Zeppelin · 02-18-2013, 07:45 PM

Hi, I just recently wanted to get windows on my mac so i could play some windows games and my friend said he knew how to setup bootcamp with his windows 7 info. I know little about computers so I let him set it up and he seems to have messed up mac because now my computer is stuck on insert boot disk press any key to continue everytime it starts up. He said he forgot to burn a copy of windows to a cd so that he could of inserted at this point but now he cant find his original CD and my computer is stuck at this screen everytime my computer loads...Is there some sort of command or buttons to hold so that my mac loads like normal to get me off this black screen of death?!!! Im running osx 10.6.8 and have a new i mac, not the latest one but the version prior to that one. plz help!??? thanks

DeltaMac · 02-18-2013, 09:47 PM

Try this:
If your iMac is on, press and hold the power button for 5 seconds, which will shut it off.
Then, press and release the power button, and immediately hold the Option key on your keyboard. You should see the boot picker screen, also called the Option-boot screen.
You will see icons for any bootable partitions or drives.
You should see one icon that represents your OS X system, with the name of your hard drive - and if Windows is installed properly, you should also see an icon for Windows.
Click the OS X system icon, and then press enter. Your iMac should boot to OS X, and you're back in business. Go to your System Preferences, and the Startup Disk pane. Make sure your OS X partition is selected, and then everything will be OK from this point.
If you can't boot to OS X, and there's NO OS X partition in the Option-boot screen, then your buddy has wiped your hard drive for you.
I hope you backed up your own files, before your buddy decided to "help" you....
And, you can restore your OS X system by booting to the restore DVD that came in the box with your iMac when it was new.

In the future, if you want to try Windows again, there's plenty of helpful information at the Apple web site for how to setup a Windows installation, using the Boot Camp Assistant.
http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/

02-18-2013, 07:45 PM	#1
-Led Zeppelin Triple-A Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montreal Posts: 111	Mac won't startup after attempt to use Bootcamp Hi, I just recently wanted to get windows on my mac so i could play some windows games and my friend said he knew how to setup bootcamp with his windows 7 info. I know little about computers so I let him set it up and he seems to have messed up mac because now my computer is stuck on insert boot disk press any key to continue everytime it starts up. He said he forgot to burn a copy of windows to a cd so that he could of inserted at this point but now he cant find his original CD and my computer is stuck at this screen everytime my computer loads...Is there some sort of command or buttons to hold so that my mac loads like normal to get me off this black screen of death?!!! Im running osx 10.6.8 and have a new i mac, not the latest one but the version prior to that one. plz help!??? thanks

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

02-18-2013, 09:47 PM	#2
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,958	Try this: If your iMac is on, press and hold the power button for 5 seconds, which will shut it off. Then, press and release the power button, and immediately hold the Option key on your keyboard. You should see the boot picker screen, also called the Option-boot screen. You will see icons for any bootable partitions or drives. You should see one icon that represents your OS X system, with the name of your hard drive - and if Windows is installed properly, you should also see an icon for Windows. Click the OS X system icon, and then press enter. Your iMac should boot to OS X, and you're back in business. Go to your System Preferences, and the Startup Disk pane. Make sure your OS X partition is selected, and then everything will be OK from this point. If you can't boot to OS X, and there's NO OS X partition in the Option-boot screen, then your buddy has wiped your hard drive for you. I hope you backed up your own files, before your buddy decided to "help" you.... And, you can restore your OS X system by booting to the restore DVD that came in the box with your iMac when it was new. In the future, if you want to try Windows again, there's plenty of helpful information at the Apple web site for how to setup a Windows installation, using the Boot Camp Assistant. http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/