Startup Disk

The Startup Disk preferences pane (Figure 115) enables you to select a startup disk and, if desired, restart your computer. You might find this helpful if you want to start your computer under Mac OS 9.2 or from a bootable CD or DVD disc, such as a Mac OS installer disc.

Figure 115. The Startup Disk preferences pane.

The new Target Disk Mode feature of Mac OS X 10.4 makes it possible for your computer's hard disk to be used as an external hard disk when connected to another computer via FireWire cable. You can enable this option in the Startup Disk preferences pane, too.

Tips

• Starting your computer under Mac OS 9.x is discussed in Chapter 18.

• Mac OS X enables you to have multiple System folders on a single disk or partition. Startup Disk is the tool you use to select which System folder should be used at startup.

• To decide "on the fly" which startup disk to use, hold down the key at startup to display icons for each startup disk or folder. Click the one you want and click the forward arrow to complete the startup process from the disk you selected.

• Holding down the key while a bootable disc is inserted in your computer usually starts the computer from the System folder on that disc.

To select a startup disk

1.	Display the Startup Disk preferences pane (Figure 115).
2.	Click the icon for the startup folder or disk you want to use.
3.	To immediately restart your computer, click the Restart button. or Quit System Preferences. Click the Change button in the confirmation dialog sheet that appears to save your change.

Tips

• If you choose Network Startup in step 2, your computer will look for a NetBoot startup volume when you restart. This makes it possible to boot your computer from a Mac OS X server on the network. Do not select this option unless a NetBoot volume is accessible; doing so could cause errors on restart.

• If you do not immediately restart your computer with the new startup disk selected, that disk will be used the next time you restart or start up.

To use target disk mode

1.	Use a FireWire cable to connect your computer to another computer.
2.	In the Startup Disk preferences pane (Figure 115), click Target Disk Mode.
3.	Read the information in the dialog sheet that appears (Figure 116). Figure 116. This dialog appears when you click the Target Disk Mode button.
4.	Click Restart.

Tip

• When you're finished using your computer in target disk mode, press its power button.