How to Change the Mac Start-Up Disk

If you need to fix your hard drive (your default startup disk), reinstall system software, or throw away system preferences, you can start your Mac from any disk that has the Mac OS (System) and Finder files on it.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mac OS 9.0
• Norton Utilities For Macintosh

1. Insert the disk you want to use to make your startup disk, such as a CD or Zip disk. Make sure it has the Mac OS (System) and Finder files on it.

2. Click the Apple menu and select Control Panels.

3. Choose Startup Disk. Locate the icon for your new startup disk in the window.

4. Click the icon.

5. Close the control panel.

6. Restart your Mac. If your disk pops out, pop it back in immediately. Your Mac will start from the selected disk, which will appear as an icon in the upper-right corner.

Tips & Warnings

• The startup disk's icon always appears in the upper-right corner of the screen.
• A shortcut for starting up from a CD-ROM is to insert the CD, restart your Mac and hold down the letter "C" on the keyboard.
• Starting up from an alternative disk makes it easier for certain utilities, such as Norton Utilities for the Macintosh (Symantec), to diagnose and repair your default startup disk.
• Remember to reverse the procedure to return to your hard disk as the startup disk.