However, to fully reinstall Lion you must be connected to the internet because the operating system files and data have to be downloaded. Reinstall Mac OS X: This option will start the Lion installer.Note: In order to use this function you must have a complete backup, including system files, saved on your Time Machine.Restore From Time Machine Backup: This option will allow you to restore your entire system, including the operating system, all accounts, user data, and settings, from a Time Machine Backup.The Recovery Partition provides the following options: DoIT assumes no liability for data loss that occurs as a result of this procedure. Please contact the manufacturer or system developer for help.ĬAUTION: Please make sure your important data is backed-up on an external storage device (such as a CD, DVD, or external hard drive) before attempting this procedure. These instructions are provided for self help purposes only. NOTE: These procedures are not supported by the Help Desk. Recovery Partition - OS X 10.7 and Higher Generally, since the directory check occurs during the gray startup screen, you can reboot immediately after logging in. To return to a normal boot, simply restart the computer without holding any keys. While a Safe Boot can be helpful for troubleshooting, many services will be unavailable - specifically audio and network devices. In Mac OS 10.4 or later, you will have to login to your account, even if it normally does so automatically.Note: Startup will likely take substantially longer than normal.Once the gray Apple and progress indicator appear, release the Shift key.Immediately after the startup chime, press and hold the Shift key.10.4 or later: Disables all startup and login itemsĪ Safe Boot can potentially repair problems that prevent Mac OS X from starting properly.10.3.9 or earlier: Disables all non-Apple startup items.Load only the required kernel extensions.Force a directory check of the startup volume (as Disk Utility's Disk Repair).

This can help to troubleshoot startup problems when an OS installation disc is not available.Ī Safe Boot will perform the following tasks: This document explains how to perform a Safe Boot in Mac OS X 10.2 or later and how to boot into the recovery partition for OS X Lion.

Access mac os x utilities