stop default login?

gkar · 02-05-2002, 10:15 AM

I presently have my homedesktop configured to automatically login to my default account. (I'll be changing this tonight when I get home) Is there a key that can be pressed while OS X is booting to force it to stop at the login screen? Failing this, assume my default account is automatically started. Is there a keypress that will stop the login applications from starting?

Last night an application locked up so badly that I couldn't couldn't force the application to quit. I had to restart. When I did my first two login applications obviously started up (I saw them) and then the beachball cursor appeared. Again the computer was locked up completely.

After checking the hard drives for damage (and finding a few minor things) I restarted again with the same result. Having concluded that one of my startup applications was munged (or more likely its preference file) I restarted with a CD and found the login plist in my library. After moving it I successfully started and my desktop appeared. By that time it was late so I went to bed. Tonight I get to figure out which startup application caused the problem. Joy.

But my job would have been much easier had I been able to either change my login on the fly or terminate the startup applications. Booting off the CD takes much longer.

mervTormel · 02-05-2002, 11:08 AM

gkar, sympathies.

it seems we have lost all startup control other than command-s to single user mode. at least i haven't read about any magical keys that can hobble any of the startup.

how about it, mortals? what would be good to have?

1. bypass auto-login feature
2. launch no login startup apps
3. don't hookup any of the global /library thingy's (startup, contextual menus)
4. ???

let's not go nuts. perhaps all we need at first is a way to say, "gimme a vanilla startup."

gkar · 02-05-2002, 11:54 AM

Oh god...we need a safe mode!

02-05-2002, 10:15 AM	#1
gkar Prospect Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 18	stop default login? I presently have my homedesktop configured to automatically login to my default account. (I'll be changing this tonight when I get home) Is there a key that can be pressed while OS X is booting to force it to stop at the login screen? Failing this, assume my default account is automatically started. Is there a keypress that will stop the login applications from starting? Last night an application locked up so badly that I couldn't couldn't force the application to quit. I had to restart. When I did my first two login applications obviously started up (I saw them) and then the beachball cursor appeared. Again the computer was locked up completely. After checking the hard drives for damage (and finding a few minor things) I restarted again with the same result. Having concluded that one of my startup applications was munged (or more likely its preference file) I restarted with a CD and found the login plist in my library. After moving it I successfully started and my desktop appeared. By that time it was late so I went to bed. Tonight I get to figure out which startup application caused the problem. Joy. But my job would have been much easier had I been able to either change my login on the fly or terminate the startup applications. Booting off the CD takes much longer.

02-05-2002, 11:54 AM	#3
gkar Prospect Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 18	anything but that! Oh god...we need a safe mode!

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02-05-2002, 11:08 AM	#2
mervTormel League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 5,536	gkar, sympathies. it seems we have lost all startup control other than command-s to single user mode. at least i haven't read about any magical keys that can hobble any of the startup. how about it, mortals? what would be good to have? 1. bypass auto-login feature 2. launch no login startup apps 3. don't hookup any of the global /library thingy's (startup, contextual menus) 4. ??? let's not go nuts. perhaps all we need at first is a way to say, "gimme a vanilla startup."