Intel Mac :: Possible To Password Protect Safe Mode?
Jun 6, 2012
Is it possible to place a password when booting into safe mode on my Mac. Let me explain a little more. I know that the accounts are all their and you can place passwords on the user accounts, but here is my problem. I use k9 web filtering and when you boot up in safe mode it does not work and you have unfiltered access to the internet. Is it possible to only allow the system admin to boot into safe mode with a password so no one else would have access? Its a work around the filter I am trying to block.
I have the Open Firmware Password enabled, which prevents my machine from booting into Safe Mode when I hold the shift key at startup (as expected). As a result, if I want to use Safe Mode I have to boot up from my install DVD, disable the password and then reboot. Very time consuming! I just read about a way to boot into Safe Mode:
(at [URL="http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1455"]Apple Support[/URL)] by entering the following terminal command: sudo nvram boot-args="-x"
I'm a little hesitant to test it out in case I run into some sort of Open Firmware/Safe Mode conflict.
My MacBook pro is only starting in safe mode and it's not recognizing my password. I have a cd in the notebook and it won't come out so I can't put in another disk if I needed to.
I've been using my Intel Mac-Mini without a hitch for three years now. Previously it had been plugged into a Samsung 32" LCD TV, but I've just swapped it over for a 1080p Panasonic 37".
Now when I turn on the mac it takes a long time to boot up and then eventually settles on a blue screen. The mouse pointer is visible but nothing else. I've tried using a dvi to vga adaptor and an HDMI to vga cable and the same thing happens.I tried a 15" Samsung monitor and the same thing happens.
If I boot in 'safe' mode it allows me to type in my password but when I try to log in it fades to blue and then returns to the log in page.
Did a Shift - Command-V and the black screen showing all the startup steps appeared and it all looked good except: AFL Alart Sockwed cant update and INIT Reboot transmit failed. All else looks good. I have tried this 3 times and never go past that point. Then the screen turns off white like it does when it starts normally before the apple appears and the last time the screen went black.
I have tried starting with just the Shift Key and computer starts up but not in safe mode. I have tired starting with the OS X disk and the C key and it will not recognize the disk.I used the #1 disk since the instructions are printed on the disk. Did not work so I tried disk 2 and I get a menu to start the OS or tools. If I click on either one the screen goes white and stays that way.
computer starts fine and provides a login window, and then the desktop screen with screen saver pictures in perfect color. As it goes through starting programs it starts the same programs that is had open when the computer originally crashed. Even when I close them, before it locks up again, and I am forced to restart the same programs open up to the same place. Its like the computer is frozen in one location and will not go beyond that point. Eventually the screen turns white and sometimes black and sometimes gray.
Tech support thought it was the video card, put a new one in but did not fix the problem and then said it was not that but that it was the monitor. I said that did not make sense since the monitor and desktop icons and pictures are beautiful and clear. They then said it was the inverter board on the monitor and Apple only replace the whole thing. I purchased an inverter board and replace it. No change. The tech person said that the computer works find without the monitor connected - I will see if that is correct next. Isn't that a more systimatic testing procedure then trying parts to see if it works? Oh I did do the complete long hardware test. Took about an hour and it passed! Isn't this strange?
Everytime I start up my iMac (2011, 27 inch, OS X 10.7.4 Lion) it starts on what seems to be safe mode. After starting up on safe mode, I restart (not shut down, just restart) again, then it comes back normally.
My 27" iMac will only start in safe mode. I need to back it up before service, but it will not read (or see) any external drives that I plug in. How do I back it up in safe mode?Â
a bit complicated.  I have a 3 year old iMac, Snow Leopard 10.5.2 on the dics, but I updated it so..a pretty receent version of Snow Leopard. I had had kernel panics before- it turned out to be a bad RAM chip, replaced it and it fixed the problem.Â
This time, I was hoping it was the same. I got a new RAM chip, swapped them out and ID'ed the bad one. Reseated the RAM. Probelm is, when I was trying to fix the problem, I had booted in Safe Mode. Now the iMac starts up normally- the chime, the Apple- AND the Safe Mode bar.
Which progresses for about 5 seconds before another Kernel panic descends. This happens whether the keyboard is connected or not. At this point the Safe Mode at startup bugs me more than the kernel panics! Sigh.Â
I wonder if there's any key combo on startup I could try to at least get out of Safe Mode before Kernel panic sets in. When my laptop has a kernel panic i can usually repair with Disk repair on CD.  I realize this sounds hopeless! And i need it repaired, but money is an issue.
I turned on my iMac (20in 2008 model) and after the apple logo appears, I get a gray screen that says "process 1 exec of sbin/launched failed". I'm pretty sure it's because my hard disk is full. I tried booting up in safe mode, but my wireless keyboard battery died. I put in new batteries, but I need to get to the desktop to reconnect the keyboard. I tried using a usb wired keyboard, but it doesn't power up until I'm on the desktop screen. I don't know what else to do. I need a keyboard to boot to safe mode, but I need to be fully booted to work the keyboard.
I'm getting the gray screen when I startup. I tried using the install disc to repair the utility, but it said it cannot be repaired. I had to use a plug-in mouse instead of my normal wireless mouse to get the startup disc out on a restart. I want to now startup in safe mode, but holding down shift during startup with my wireless keyboard doesn't work. Do I need to have a plug-in type keyboard for this function to work? Can you backup files using safemode?
My 2014 21" iMac powers itself down after about 10 seconds while trying to startup in safe boot mode. I'm not even sure why it is trying to start in safe boot mode. I shut it down after a power outage while plugged into an APS UPS. I'm guessing that since I interrupted the auto shutdown it is restarting in safe boot mode. Either way, I get a grey screen with a big apple and a progress bar. The progress bar gets to about a tenth full and the power just shuts off.Â
I've tried starting up while holding the alt key to select the Macintosh HD. The same thing happens.
Been having probs w Mac Pro w Lion seeming to hang on shutdown/restart. Have 'reopen windows' unchecked in prefs.  Was able to run through safe mode boot once but now seems to hang about 20% in everytime.  Have had to do shutdowns w power button (I hate that) or /by ctrl-option-command-esc Boot single user run rack -fy says 'apparently ok'Mount -uw / reports removed 10 orphaned or unlinked files and 10 directories?
Info: Mac Pro, 2xDual2.66, 4GB, GeForce 7300 GT, 23" Apple LCD, Mac OS X (10.5), G4 Cube, Rev A/C iMac, NeXTCube,PwrMac8500,Quadras,SE30s,MacPlus
I have a 15" mbp with 10.6 Intel core duo, 4gb ram with a boot camp and ubuntu partition through parallels. The other day I was installing xcode from apple's website, which failed 3 times after downloading saying the package couldn't be expanded. I left my computer for a while and came back where i then had to log in again. it rejected my password numerous time (i'm positive it was correct). when i restarted my computer i got a kernal panic screen when the apple logo came up. it told me to restart the computer which i did. didn't work. i restarted with the osx cd to use the disk utility. when it checked the drive it found a bunch of errors, which i then tried to correct. it went for a couple minutes then told me they couldn't be fixed and i should try to back up my data and reinstall osx. i don't know how to back up my hard drive when i can't log into my account. i've tried to boot in target disk mode and copy some files that way, but the only disk the other computer sees is my windows partition- no mac partition.
i've also tried these, none of these have worked: restarting in safe mode resetting the ram and pram booting with different sticks of ram all result in a kernal panic.
my windows partition still works fine though (as much as i hate to say it) the only things I really care about on my computer are my files from school and my itunes library. is there any way i can get these files off my computer?
My Mac Pro main boot drive us encrypted. I booted into recovery mode the other day & it wouldn't let me boot back o my main drive. Now upon start up I can't enter either recovery mode nor safe mode nor chose the main drive to boot from. I'm absolutely stymied in what to do.
I have been unable to restart me computer after a software update (White screen/apple logo/spinning wheel continuously). I have tried to start up in safe mode (holding down shift key) but it hasn't worked.
my computer wont run in regular mode. The problem occurred when I was changing my resolution and I pressed the wrong one. The screen went blank so I restarted, then the screen turned black after the apple logo. Now I can only run in safe boot. Is there any way to change the res. for the regular boot in the safe boo mode?
Is there a way to define a password on any USB key, so the computer asks for a password each time the key is mounted on the desktop ? Will it also work on any PC (not just Macs) ?
I suspect it isn't currently possible.
If it isn't possible, how do you protect the files on a USB key ? I don't want to compress the files and encrypt them...
I've just purchased a MacBook Pro a few months ago. There are sometimes I lend my MBP to my friends. However, there is a few applications I don't want them to open without my permission (such as iPhoto, iTunes). I can simply hide it away, but there are some know how to find it. I really wanna create a password for those apps. Is there any way?
I know this has been asked before, but I can't seem to find an adequate answer. In both Lotus Notes and MS Outlook, one is prompted for a password on opening (not just mail synching) that prevents access to your downloaded emails. Apple Mail doesn't seem to allow that...the password synchs only to the POP server, thus making your local email readable to anyone.
I've heard the point about users and accounts, but that creates even more headache for me. I've got a Mac Pro, which is my system, but also the primary "home media center" for the family household. So I want iTunes, movies, iPhoto, etc, always available. Setting up different "accounts" and users for everyone creates a nightmare to share and organize the "public" apps and files. I also don't want to "password" protect the account and system, as that still limits the access to "public" apps. And having a separate account for me, still means I have the headache of synching these "public apps" to my account.
This would all be much simpler if I could have Mail require a password upon opening. I do still want my email private. I don't think this is such an extravagant use case...seems like a lot of folks are looking for something similar. It's the only thing I'm missing from Windows XP.
I recently synced my hotmail to my mac mail, which is all great apart from one thing. My macbook is shared with my housemates and anyone of them can boot up mail and read all my emails etc. Is there a way of password protecting the app on startup?
I am just curious but is there a way to Password Protect an entire External HD. Like once you hook it into your computer via USB or Firewire it then asks for a password to gain access to the drive.
I've been searching here and on google to no avail. Here's my dilemma:
I'm a teacher. I use OS X at home and Win XP at work. I have a USB drive that contains all my materials. I want to password protect it, so that if i forget it somewhere, students will not be able to see final exams/tests etc. I am not an admin at work and the IT dept will not install any programs on my work PC. I want to be able to access these files at home also.
