How to reinstall osx with a windows keyboard












2















I read that the hotkey to use for reinstalling osx is cmd + r but I have a windows keyboard plugged in and I am wondering what I can do to reinstall osx with this keyboard?










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    2















    I read that the hotkey to use for reinstalling osx is cmd + r but I have a windows keyboard plugged in and I am wondering what I can do to reinstall osx with this keyboard?










    share|improve this question

























      2












      2








      2








      I read that the hotkey to use for reinstalling osx is cmd + r but I have a windows keyboard plugged in and I am wondering what I can do to reinstall osx with this keyboard?










      share|improve this question














      I read that the hotkey to use for reinstalling osx is cmd + r but I have a windows keyboard plugged in and I am wondering what I can do to reinstall osx with this keyboard?







      macos keyboard reinstall






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      asked Nov 23 '14 at 1:20









      erikvolderikvold

      1,537104061




      1,537104061






















          7 Answers
          7






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          2














          The Command key maps to the ALT key on a standard US English keyboard



          Try holding down ALT + R and see if that works.



          Alternitavely, holding down ALT during EFI (when the screen is grey directly after power on) will present you with a menu of boot options. This should include the recovery partition on the hard drive, as well as any external media (OS X media for example) the system considers bootable






          share|improve this answer


























          • I tried this it doesn't work, also tried with ctrl and the windows key and this all did not work.

            – erikvold
            Nov 23 '14 at 15:32











          • You do need to be holding it down at the right point in the process. Try turning the computer off, and then the second you press the power button hold down ctrl. This has always worked on my Late 09 iMac. If you've got optical media, pressing C should make it boot from that.

            – Crippledsmurf
            Nov 23 '14 at 21:20



















          2














          Hold windows key + ALT + R Together






          share|improve this answer



















          • 1





            This works ! Using windows keyboard wireless 2000

            – Sijan Shrestha
            May 2 '18 at 5:44











          • Same here! Wireless Desktop 5000! Thank you so much!

            – Reado
            Nov 19 '18 at 7:53



















          0














          I have a logitech G110 keyboard attached in to one of the two middle USB ports on the back of an iMac from late 2011 and holding down Alt on boot up gave me the option to choose recovery so I'm hoping this helps






          share|improve this answer
























          • This is the same as the other answer.

            – Burgi
            Feb 12 '16 at 9:02



















          0














          Just an update, you have to hold down the CONTROL key (by itself) until the Recovery Menu pops up. I was having the same sort of issue, on a Mac Desktop A1186; using a standard keyboard. After several attempts by trial and error, I finally got the unit to boot to the recovery menu, by holding down CTRL; and CTRL ONLY - Right AFTER pressing the power button AND hearing the apple chime. Just wanted to share this in case anyone else ran into this same issue. Thanks.






          share|improve this answer































            0














            The Windows key plus the R key (i.e.,Win+R)



            Re/boot the computer and do not actually press this combination until the instant you hear the obnoxious “startup chime” (AKA “macOS is broken again everyone far and wide hear it!”), and hold this combination until you see the Apple logo, then feel free to release. That is all. Stupid OS.






            share|improve this answer































              -1














              Cmd should map to the Windows key, on a UK keyboard.

              Maybe they're different for different keyboard layouts.



              It would only take you 3 reboots to figure out which it was anyway ;-)






              share|improve this answer
























              • actually I tried alt, windows key and ctrl all more than twice now, so it takes more than 3 reboots.

                – erikvold
                Nov 23 '14 at 15:31













              • which only goes to prove it's not working, not that my answer was wrong.

                – Tetsujin
                Nov 23 '14 at 15:38



















              -1














              Windows key + R worked for me with a PC-keyboard on a Mac Mini for reinstalling macOS. I hold them down when starting up the Mac Mini.






              share|improve this answer
























              • Redundant to an answer that predates it.

                – Jan Kyu Peblik
                Jan 18 at 21:22











              Your Answer








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              7 Answers
              7






              active

              oldest

              votes








              7 Answers
              7






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes









              2














              The Command key maps to the ALT key on a standard US English keyboard



              Try holding down ALT + R and see if that works.



              Alternitavely, holding down ALT during EFI (when the screen is grey directly after power on) will present you with a menu of boot options. This should include the recovery partition on the hard drive, as well as any external media (OS X media for example) the system considers bootable






              share|improve this answer


























              • I tried this it doesn't work, also tried with ctrl and the windows key and this all did not work.

                – erikvold
                Nov 23 '14 at 15:32











              • You do need to be holding it down at the right point in the process. Try turning the computer off, and then the second you press the power button hold down ctrl. This has always worked on my Late 09 iMac. If you've got optical media, pressing C should make it boot from that.

                – Crippledsmurf
                Nov 23 '14 at 21:20
















              2














              The Command key maps to the ALT key on a standard US English keyboard



              Try holding down ALT + R and see if that works.



              Alternitavely, holding down ALT during EFI (when the screen is grey directly after power on) will present you with a menu of boot options. This should include the recovery partition on the hard drive, as well as any external media (OS X media for example) the system considers bootable






              share|improve this answer


























              • I tried this it doesn't work, also tried with ctrl and the windows key and this all did not work.

                – erikvold
                Nov 23 '14 at 15:32











              • You do need to be holding it down at the right point in the process. Try turning the computer off, and then the second you press the power button hold down ctrl. This has always worked on my Late 09 iMac. If you've got optical media, pressing C should make it boot from that.

                – Crippledsmurf
                Nov 23 '14 at 21:20














              2












              2








              2







              The Command key maps to the ALT key on a standard US English keyboard



              Try holding down ALT + R and see if that works.



              Alternitavely, holding down ALT during EFI (when the screen is grey directly after power on) will present you with a menu of boot options. This should include the recovery partition on the hard drive, as well as any external media (OS X media for example) the system considers bootable






              share|improve this answer















              The Command key maps to the ALT key on a standard US English keyboard



              Try holding down ALT + R and see if that works.



              Alternitavely, holding down ALT during EFI (when the screen is grey directly after power on) will present you with a menu of boot options. This should include the recovery partition on the hard drive, as well as any external media (OS X media for example) the system considers bootable







              share|improve this answer














              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited Nov 23 '14 at 1:57

























              answered Nov 23 '14 at 1:39









              CrippledsmurfCrippledsmurf

              1,3421016




              1,3421016













              • I tried this it doesn't work, also tried with ctrl and the windows key and this all did not work.

                – erikvold
                Nov 23 '14 at 15:32











              • You do need to be holding it down at the right point in the process. Try turning the computer off, and then the second you press the power button hold down ctrl. This has always worked on my Late 09 iMac. If you've got optical media, pressing C should make it boot from that.

                – Crippledsmurf
                Nov 23 '14 at 21:20



















              • I tried this it doesn't work, also tried with ctrl and the windows key and this all did not work.

                – erikvold
                Nov 23 '14 at 15:32











              • You do need to be holding it down at the right point in the process. Try turning the computer off, and then the second you press the power button hold down ctrl. This has always worked on my Late 09 iMac. If you've got optical media, pressing C should make it boot from that.

                – Crippledsmurf
                Nov 23 '14 at 21:20

















              I tried this it doesn't work, also tried with ctrl and the windows key and this all did not work.

              – erikvold
              Nov 23 '14 at 15:32





              I tried this it doesn't work, also tried with ctrl and the windows key and this all did not work.

              – erikvold
              Nov 23 '14 at 15:32













              You do need to be holding it down at the right point in the process. Try turning the computer off, and then the second you press the power button hold down ctrl. This has always worked on my Late 09 iMac. If you've got optical media, pressing C should make it boot from that.

              – Crippledsmurf
              Nov 23 '14 at 21:20





              You do need to be holding it down at the right point in the process. Try turning the computer off, and then the second you press the power button hold down ctrl. This has always worked on my Late 09 iMac. If you've got optical media, pressing C should make it boot from that.

              – Crippledsmurf
              Nov 23 '14 at 21:20













              2














              Hold windows key + ALT + R Together






              share|improve this answer



















              • 1





                This works ! Using windows keyboard wireless 2000

                – Sijan Shrestha
                May 2 '18 at 5:44











              • Same here! Wireless Desktop 5000! Thank you so much!

                – Reado
                Nov 19 '18 at 7:53
















              2














              Hold windows key + ALT + R Together






              share|improve this answer



















              • 1





                This works ! Using windows keyboard wireless 2000

                – Sijan Shrestha
                May 2 '18 at 5:44











              • Same here! Wireless Desktop 5000! Thank you so much!

                – Reado
                Nov 19 '18 at 7:53














              2












              2








              2







              Hold windows key + ALT + R Together






              share|improve this answer













              Hold windows key + ALT + R Together







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered Nov 3 '16 at 9:37









              Amit GargAmit Garg

              211




              211








              • 1





                This works ! Using windows keyboard wireless 2000

                – Sijan Shrestha
                May 2 '18 at 5:44











              • Same here! Wireless Desktop 5000! Thank you so much!

                – Reado
                Nov 19 '18 at 7:53














              • 1





                This works ! Using windows keyboard wireless 2000

                – Sijan Shrestha
                May 2 '18 at 5:44











              • Same here! Wireless Desktop 5000! Thank you so much!

                – Reado
                Nov 19 '18 at 7:53








              1




              1





              This works ! Using windows keyboard wireless 2000

              – Sijan Shrestha
              May 2 '18 at 5:44





              This works ! Using windows keyboard wireless 2000

              – Sijan Shrestha
              May 2 '18 at 5:44













              Same here! Wireless Desktop 5000! Thank you so much!

              – Reado
              Nov 19 '18 at 7:53





              Same here! Wireless Desktop 5000! Thank you so much!

              – Reado
              Nov 19 '18 at 7:53











              0














              I have a logitech G110 keyboard attached in to one of the two middle USB ports on the back of an iMac from late 2011 and holding down Alt on boot up gave me the option to choose recovery so I'm hoping this helps






              share|improve this answer
























              • This is the same as the other answer.

                – Burgi
                Feb 12 '16 at 9:02
















              0














              I have a logitech G110 keyboard attached in to one of the two middle USB ports on the back of an iMac from late 2011 and holding down Alt on boot up gave me the option to choose recovery so I'm hoping this helps






              share|improve this answer
























              • This is the same as the other answer.

                – Burgi
                Feb 12 '16 at 9:02














              0












              0








              0







              I have a logitech G110 keyboard attached in to one of the two middle USB ports on the back of an iMac from late 2011 and holding down Alt on boot up gave me the option to choose recovery so I'm hoping this helps






              share|improve this answer













              I have a logitech G110 keyboard attached in to one of the two middle USB ports on the back of an iMac from late 2011 and holding down Alt on boot up gave me the option to choose recovery so I'm hoping this helps







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered Feb 12 '16 at 7:38









              zerocks88zerocks88

              1




              1













              • This is the same as the other answer.

                – Burgi
                Feb 12 '16 at 9:02



















              • This is the same as the other answer.

                – Burgi
                Feb 12 '16 at 9:02

















              This is the same as the other answer.

              – Burgi
              Feb 12 '16 at 9:02





              This is the same as the other answer.

              – Burgi
              Feb 12 '16 at 9:02











              0














              Just an update, you have to hold down the CONTROL key (by itself) until the Recovery Menu pops up. I was having the same sort of issue, on a Mac Desktop A1186; using a standard keyboard. After several attempts by trial and error, I finally got the unit to boot to the recovery menu, by holding down CTRL; and CTRL ONLY - Right AFTER pressing the power button AND hearing the apple chime. Just wanted to share this in case anyone else ran into this same issue. Thanks.






              share|improve this answer




























                0














                Just an update, you have to hold down the CONTROL key (by itself) until the Recovery Menu pops up. I was having the same sort of issue, on a Mac Desktop A1186; using a standard keyboard. After several attempts by trial and error, I finally got the unit to boot to the recovery menu, by holding down CTRL; and CTRL ONLY - Right AFTER pressing the power button AND hearing the apple chime. Just wanted to share this in case anyone else ran into this same issue. Thanks.






                share|improve this answer


























                  0












                  0








                  0







                  Just an update, you have to hold down the CONTROL key (by itself) until the Recovery Menu pops up. I was having the same sort of issue, on a Mac Desktop A1186; using a standard keyboard. After several attempts by trial and error, I finally got the unit to boot to the recovery menu, by holding down CTRL; and CTRL ONLY - Right AFTER pressing the power button AND hearing the apple chime. Just wanted to share this in case anyone else ran into this same issue. Thanks.






                  share|improve this answer













                  Just an update, you have to hold down the CONTROL key (by itself) until the Recovery Menu pops up. I was having the same sort of issue, on a Mac Desktop A1186; using a standard keyboard. After several attempts by trial and error, I finally got the unit to boot to the recovery menu, by holding down CTRL; and CTRL ONLY - Right AFTER pressing the power button AND hearing the apple chime. Just wanted to share this in case anyone else ran into this same issue. Thanks.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Nov 18 '16 at 17:46









                  user665452user665452

                  1




                  1























                      0














                      The Windows key plus the R key (i.e.,Win+R)



                      Re/boot the computer and do not actually press this combination until the instant you hear the obnoxious “startup chime” (AKA “macOS is broken again everyone far and wide hear it!”), and hold this combination until you see the Apple logo, then feel free to release. That is all. Stupid OS.






                      share|improve this answer




























                        0














                        The Windows key plus the R key (i.e.,Win+R)



                        Re/boot the computer and do not actually press this combination until the instant you hear the obnoxious “startup chime” (AKA “macOS is broken again everyone far and wide hear it!”), and hold this combination until you see the Apple logo, then feel free to release. That is all. Stupid OS.






                        share|improve this answer


























                          0












                          0








                          0







                          The Windows key plus the R key (i.e.,Win+R)



                          Re/boot the computer and do not actually press this combination until the instant you hear the obnoxious “startup chime” (AKA “macOS is broken again everyone far and wide hear it!”), and hold this combination until you see the Apple logo, then feel free to release. That is all. Stupid OS.






                          share|improve this answer













                          The Windows key plus the R key (i.e.,Win+R)



                          Re/boot the computer and do not actually press this combination until the instant you hear the obnoxious “startup chime” (AKA “macOS is broken again everyone far and wide hear it!”), and hold this combination until you see the Apple logo, then feel free to release. That is all. Stupid OS.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered Dec 18 '17 at 23:07









                          Jan Kyu PeblikJan Kyu Peblik

                          1403




                          1403























                              -1














                              Cmd should map to the Windows key, on a UK keyboard.

                              Maybe they're different for different keyboard layouts.



                              It would only take you 3 reboots to figure out which it was anyway ;-)






                              share|improve this answer
























                              • actually I tried alt, windows key and ctrl all more than twice now, so it takes more than 3 reboots.

                                – erikvold
                                Nov 23 '14 at 15:31













                              • which only goes to prove it's not working, not that my answer was wrong.

                                – Tetsujin
                                Nov 23 '14 at 15:38
















                              -1














                              Cmd should map to the Windows key, on a UK keyboard.

                              Maybe they're different for different keyboard layouts.



                              It would only take you 3 reboots to figure out which it was anyway ;-)






                              share|improve this answer
























                              • actually I tried alt, windows key and ctrl all more than twice now, so it takes more than 3 reboots.

                                – erikvold
                                Nov 23 '14 at 15:31













                              • which only goes to prove it's not working, not that my answer was wrong.

                                – Tetsujin
                                Nov 23 '14 at 15:38














                              -1












                              -1








                              -1







                              Cmd should map to the Windows key, on a UK keyboard.

                              Maybe they're different for different keyboard layouts.



                              It would only take you 3 reboots to figure out which it was anyway ;-)






                              share|improve this answer













                              Cmd should map to the Windows key, on a UK keyboard.

                              Maybe they're different for different keyboard layouts.



                              It would only take you 3 reboots to figure out which it was anyway ;-)







                              share|improve this answer












                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer










                              answered Nov 23 '14 at 10:18









                              TetsujinTetsujin

                              15.5k53262




                              15.5k53262













                              • actually I tried alt, windows key and ctrl all more than twice now, so it takes more than 3 reboots.

                                – erikvold
                                Nov 23 '14 at 15:31













                              • which only goes to prove it's not working, not that my answer was wrong.

                                – Tetsujin
                                Nov 23 '14 at 15:38



















                              • actually I tried alt, windows key and ctrl all more than twice now, so it takes more than 3 reboots.

                                – erikvold
                                Nov 23 '14 at 15:31













                              • which only goes to prove it's not working, not that my answer was wrong.

                                – Tetsujin
                                Nov 23 '14 at 15:38

















                              actually I tried alt, windows key and ctrl all more than twice now, so it takes more than 3 reboots.

                              – erikvold
                              Nov 23 '14 at 15:31







                              actually I tried alt, windows key and ctrl all more than twice now, so it takes more than 3 reboots.

                              – erikvold
                              Nov 23 '14 at 15:31















                              which only goes to prove it's not working, not that my answer was wrong.

                              – Tetsujin
                              Nov 23 '14 at 15:38





                              which only goes to prove it's not working, not that my answer was wrong.

                              – Tetsujin
                              Nov 23 '14 at 15:38











                              -1














                              Windows key + R worked for me with a PC-keyboard on a Mac Mini for reinstalling macOS. I hold them down when starting up the Mac Mini.






                              share|improve this answer
























                              • Redundant to an answer that predates it.

                                – Jan Kyu Peblik
                                Jan 18 at 21:22
















                              -1














                              Windows key + R worked for me with a PC-keyboard on a Mac Mini for reinstalling macOS. I hold them down when starting up the Mac Mini.






                              share|improve this answer
























                              • Redundant to an answer that predates it.

                                – Jan Kyu Peblik
                                Jan 18 at 21:22














                              -1












                              -1








                              -1







                              Windows key + R worked for me with a PC-keyboard on a Mac Mini for reinstalling macOS. I hold them down when starting up the Mac Mini.






                              share|improve this answer













                              Windows key + R worked for me with a PC-keyboard on a Mac Mini for reinstalling macOS. I hold them down when starting up the Mac Mini.







                              share|improve this answer












                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer










                              answered May 25 '18 at 9:09









                              FredrikFredrik

                              1




                              1













                              • Redundant to an answer that predates it.

                                – Jan Kyu Peblik
                                Jan 18 at 21:22



















                              • Redundant to an answer that predates it.

                                – Jan Kyu Peblik
                                Jan 18 at 21:22

















                              Redundant to an answer that predates it.

                              – Jan Kyu Peblik
                              Jan 18 at 21:22





                              Redundant to an answer that predates it.

                              – Jan Kyu Peblik
                              Jan 18 at 21:22


















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