To boot a PowerMac (or an iMac, iBook, eMac, etc..) from an USB stick or drive, if you have a G5 or late G4 model, first refer to the boot from CD guide and if it does not work, then follow these instructions: 1. Plug your USB stick or drive in an USB port 2. Power the computer on (or restart it if it's already running) and immediately.. 3. ..hold down those 4 keys together: [ CMD + OPT/ALT + O + F ] until you see the white Open Firmware screen similar to this: 4. Then at the Open Firmware command prompt, type this and press ENTER: boot usb0/disk@1:,:tbxi (Please make sure that there are 2 backslashes before :tbxi just in case this page contents gets screwed up in the future) Note: You may have to change usb0 for usb1 depending on which port you plugged your USB stick in. If it still doesn't work, you can try this command: boot ud:,:tbxi Note 2: If you want to boot a non-Macintosh partition, say for instance a PPC Linux distribution, then change tbxi for yaboot Note 3: If you get a CAN'T OPEN error, it means that you forgot to plug in your USB stick BEFORE powering on the computer, so turn the Mac off and start over from step #1. |
Cmd-R won't work on a Mac with an old version of OS X because the recovery partition is missing. I don't think a white mini will boot from USB, but you could connect it to another Mac thru a Firewire cable, boot this white mini holding the T key ('target disk mode'): the mini's internal hard disk will be mounted on the other mac's desktop. Insert a USB stick in one of the available USB ports on your Mac. Next, open the Terminal application from the Utilities Folder. Once you've opened the Terminal app, you'll need root access. Type the following command, and then enter your password when prompted.
Finally, press 'Return' key on the selected option to boot Mac. This way you can boot your Mac with an external USB drive, but the most critical part is to prepare the USB drive. If you have multiple USB drives connected, then the Startup Manager shall list the drives with the bootable OS. So, this is how to boot Mac from USB drive.
If you're using a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip, Startup Security Utility offers three features to help secure your Mac against unauthorized access: Firmware password protection, Secure Boot, and External Boot.
Open Startup Security Utility
- Turn on your Mac, then press and hold Command (⌘)-R immediately after you see the Apple logo. Your Mac starts up from macOS Recovery.
- When you're asked to select a user you know the password for, select the user, click Next, then enter their administrator password.
- When you see the macOS utilities window, choose Utilities > Startup Security Utility from the menu bar.
- When you're asked to authenticate, click Enter macOS Password, then choose an administrator account and enter its password.
Set a firmware password
You can use a firmware password to prevent anyone who doesn't have the password from starting up from a disk other than your designated startup disk. To set a firmware password in Startup Security Utility, click Turn On Firmware Password, then follow the onscreen instructions. Learn more about firmware passwords.
You can also change your external boot setting to prevent even those who know the firmware password from starting up from external media.
Change Secure Boot settings
Use these settings to make sure that your Mac always starts up from a legitimate, trusted operating system.
Full Security
Mac Mini Boot From Usb Pc Camera
Full Security is the default setting, offering the highest level of security. This is a level of security previously available only on iOS devices.
During startup, your Mac verifies the integrity of the operating system (OS) on your startup disk to make sure that it's legitimate. If the OS is unknown or can't be verified as legitimate, your Mac connects to Apple to download the updated integrity information it needs to verify the OS. This information is unique to your Mac, and it ensures that your Mac starts up from an OS that is trusted by Apple.
If FileVault is enabled while your Mac is attempting to download updated integrity information, you're asked to enter a password to unlock the disk. Enter your administrator password, then click Unlock to complete the download.
If the OS doesn't pass verification:
- macOS: An alert informs you that a software update is required to use this startup disk. Click Update to open the macOS installer, which you can use to reinstall macOS on the startup disk. Or click Startup Disk and choose a different startup disk, which your Mac will also attempt to verify.
- Windows: An alert informs you that you need to install windows with Boot Camp Assistant.
If your Mac can't connect to the Internet, it displays an alert that an Internet connection is required.
- Check your Internet connection, such as by choosing an active network from Wi-Fi status menu in the menu bar. Then click Try Again.
- Or click Startup Disk and choose a different startup disk.
- Or use Startup Security Utility to lower the security level
Medium Security
During startup when Medium Security is turned on, your Mac verifies the OS on your startup disk only by making sure that it has been properly signed by Apple (macOS) or Microsoft (Windows). This doesn't require an Internet connection or updated integrity information from Apple, so it doesn't prevent your Mac from using an OS that is no longer trusted by Apple.
If the OS doesn't pass verification:
- macOS: An alert informs you that a software update is required to use this startup disk. Click Update to open the macOS installer, which you can use to reinstall macOS on the startup disk. This requires an Internet connection. Or click Startup Disk and choose a different startup disk, which your Mac will also attempt to verify.
- Windows: An alert informs you that you need to install windows with Boot Camp Assistant.
No Security
No Security doesn't enforce any of the above security requirements for your startup disk.
Change External Boot settings
Mac Mini G4 Boot From Usb
Use this feature to control whether your Mac can start up from an external hard drive, thumb drive, or other external media. Install program on mac. The default and most secure setting is 'Disallow booting from external media.' When this setting is selected, your Mac can't be made to start up from any external media. Attempting to do so will cause your Mac to display a message that your security settings do not allow this Mac to use an external startup disk.
To allow your Mac to use an external startup disk:
Mac Mini Boot From Usb
Finally, press 'Return' key on the selected option to boot Mac. This way you can boot your Mac with an external USB drive, but the most critical part is to prepare the USB drive. If you have multiple USB drives connected, then the Startup Manager shall list the drives with the bootable OS. So, this is how to boot Mac from USB drive.
If you're using a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip, Startup Security Utility offers three features to help secure your Mac against unauthorized access: Firmware password protection, Secure Boot, and External Boot.
Open Startup Security Utility
- Turn on your Mac, then press and hold Command (⌘)-R immediately after you see the Apple logo. Your Mac starts up from macOS Recovery.
- When you're asked to select a user you know the password for, select the user, click Next, then enter their administrator password.
- When you see the macOS utilities window, choose Utilities > Startup Security Utility from the menu bar.
- When you're asked to authenticate, click Enter macOS Password, then choose an administrator account and enter its password.
Set a firmware password
You can use a firmware password to prevent anyone who doesn't have the password from starting up from a disk other than your designated startup disk. To set a firmware password in Startup Security Utility, click Turn On Firmware Password, then follow the onscreen instructions. Learn more about firmware passwords.
You can also change your external boot setting to prevent even those who know the firmware password from starting up from external media.
Change Secure Boot settings
Use these settings to make sure that your Mac always starts up from a legitimate, trusted operating system.
Full Security
Mac Mini Boot From Usb Pc Camera
Full Security is the default setting, offering the highest level of security. This is a level of security previously available only on iOS devices.
During startup, your Mac verifies the integrity of the operating system (OS) on your startup disk to make sure that it's legitimate. If the OS is unknown or can't be verified as legitimate, your Mac connects to Apple to download the updated integrity information it needs to verify the OS. This information is unique to your Mac, and it ensures that your Mac starts up from an OS that is trusted by Apple.
If FileVault is enabled while your Mac is attempting to download updated integrity information, you're asked to enter a password to unlock the disk. Enter your administrator password, then click Unlock to complete the download.
If the OS doesn't pass verification:
- macOS: An alert informs you that a software update is required to use this startup disk. Click Update to open the macOS installer, which you can use to reinstall macOS on the startup disk. Or click Startup Disk and choose a different startup disk, which your Mac will also attempt to verify.
- Windows: An alert informs you that you need to install windows with Boot Camp Assistant.
If your Mac can't connect to the Internet, it displays an alert that an Internet connection is required.
- Check your Internet connection, such as by choosing an active network from Wi-Fi status menu in the menu bar. Then click Try Again.
- Or click Startup Disk and choose a different startup disk.
- Or use Startup Security Utility to lower the security level
Medium Security
During startup when Medium Security is turned on, your Mac verifies the OS on your startup disk only by making sure that it has been properly signed by Apple (macOS) or Microsoft (Windows). This doesn't require an Internet connection or updated integrity information from Apple, so it doesn't prevent your Mac from using an OS that is no longer trusted by Apple.
If the OS doesn't pass verification:
- macOS: An alert informs you that a software update is required to use this startup disk. Click Update to open the macOS installer, which you can use to reinstall macOS on the startup disk. This requires an Internet connection. Or click Startup Disk and choose a different startup disk, which your Mac will also attempt to verify.
- Windows: An alert informs you that you need to install windows with Boot Camp Assistant.
No Security
No Security doesn't enforce any of the above security requirements for your startup disk.
Change External Boot settings
Mac Mini G4 Boot From Usb
Use this feature to control whether your Mac can start up from an external hard drive, thumb drive, or other external media. Install program on mac. The default and most secure setting is 'Disallow booting from external media.' When this setting is selected, your Mac can't be made to start up from any external media. Attempting to do so will cause your Mac to display a message that your security settings do not allow this Mac to use an external startup disk.
To allow your Mac to use an external startup disk:
Mac Mini Boot From Usb
- Open Startup Security Utility.
- Select 'Allow booting from external media.'
Your Mac doesn't support booting from network volumes, whether or not you allow booting from external media. - If you want to select an external startup disk before restarting your Mac, quit Startup Security Utility, then choose Apple menu > Startup Disk.
