Cannot boot CD or mac: how can I restore the original bootloader?

Discussion in 'Mac Basics and Help' started by Projekt, Jun 16, 2012.

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  1. Projekt, Jun 16, 2012

    Projekt macrumors member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2010
    #1
    I've been tasked with fixing a Mac Mini that was meant to function as a dual Mac/Windows machine, but somewhere along the road something went horribly wrong.

    The machine always boots to windows, whether or not the option key is held down.

    In addition, booting from ANY CD, be it a windows install disc or the Snow Leopard disc, brings up a "grub" prompt with the message "Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported...". I've never seen anything like it.

    I suspect a problem with the bootloader? Is it possible to restore it without harming the other partitions on the disc? How can I at least get access to booting to CDs?

    Any help is appreciated!
     
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  2. Intell, Jun 16, 2012

    Intell macrumors P6

    Intell

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2010
    Location:
    Inside
    #2
    Pressing the option key at startup should always bring up the startup selection menu. There isn't really a bootloader on Intell Macs. You need to start up from the Mac OS X disc and reformat the hard drive.
     
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  3. 53kyle, Jun 16, 2012

    53kyle macrumors 65816

    53kyle

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    Location:
    Sebastopol, CA
    #3
    Is your keyboard bluetooth (no cord)? If so, those typically take a bit to connect to the machine. If not, try inserting an install disk into the Mac and boot holding the "c" key

    EDIT: Oops, I didn't see that you already tried that, but again even holding the c key on the Bluetooth keyboard won't work due to delay with some keyboards
     
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  4. Projekt, Jun 16, 2012

    Projekt thread starter macrumors member

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    Apr 3, 2010
    #4
    Thanks for the responses guys, but I did manage to figure it out. The grub "bootloader" or whatever it was that was messing with the regular EFI of the system was zapped by clearing the PRAM and also by connecting the computer to another through TDM and applying a partition change in disc utility (even without making any changes to the scheme.)
     
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