1 The boot: prompt waits for you to type advanced startup options.
2 If you don't type anything, the computer continues starting up normally. It
3 uses the kernel and configuration files on the startup device, which it also
4 uses as the root device. Advanced startup options use the following syntax:
5 [device]<kernel> [arguments]
6 Example arguments include
7 device: rd=<BSD device name> (e.g. rd=disk0s2)
8 rd=*<IODeviceTree path> (e.g. rd=*/PCI0@0/CHN0@0/@0:1)
9 kernel: kernel name (e.g. "mach_kernel" - must be in "/" )
10 flags: -v (verbose) -s (single user mode),
11 -x (safe mode) -F (ignore boot configuration file)
12 "Graphics Mode"="WIDTHxHEIGHTxDEPTH" (e.g. "1024x768x32")
13 For VESA 3.0 graphics, you may append a refresh rate
14 after an "@" character (e.g. "1280x1024x32@75")
15 kernel flags (e.g. debug=0x144)
16 io=0xffffffff (defined in IOKit/IOKitDebug.h)
18 Example: mach_kernel rd=disk0s1 -v "Graphics Mode"="4096x4096x32@85"
20 If the computer won't start up properly, you may be able to start it up using
21 safe mode. Type -x to start up in safe mode, which ignores all cached
24 Special booter commands:
25 ?memory Displays information about the computer's memory.
26 ?video Displays VESA video modes supported by the computer's BIOS.
28 Additional useful command-line options:
29 config=<file> Use an alternate Boot.plist file.
30 platform=ACPI|X86PC Use either ACPI or non-ACPI platform support.
32 Options useful in the com.apple.Boot.plist file:
33 "Boot Graphics"=Yes|No Use graphics mode or text mode when starting.
34 "Quiet Boot"=Yes|No Use quiet boot mode (no messages or prompt).
35 Timeout=8 Number of seconds to pause at the boot: prompt.
projects / apple / boot.git / blob