How to Reset PRAM for Mac 10.4.11

Press four keys on your Mac computer's keyboard while resetting the PRAM.

While running OS 10.4.11 on your Mac, if you have problems such as the "question mark" icon appearing when you start or it starts from a different volume than what you've specified in the System Preferences settings or there is an issue with the screen resolution, try resetting the PRAM. Parameter RAM (PRAM) is memory that stores information about your Mac computer's startup volume choice, speaker volume and the DVD-region setting. It also stores display and video settings, such as refresh rate, number of colors and screen resolution.

Instructions

1. Click on the Apple symbol pull-down menu at the top left of your screen and select "Shut Down."

2. Press the "Command," "Option," "P" and "R" keys simultaneously and hold them.

3. Press the "Power" button while still holding the four keys. Continue to hold them until the computer restarts and you hear the restart sound two times.

4. Release the four keys. Your Mac's PRAM is now reset to the default values.

Tips & Warnings

• After resetting your Mac's PRAM, you might need to verify your startup volume, speaker volume and time-zone settings using System Preferences, which you access by clicking on the Apple symbol pull-down menu.

References

• Apple: Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
• Apple: When to reset NVRAM or PRAM

Resources

• Apple: What's Stored in PRAM