Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

change a windows keyboard key input to imac 'options'

L

lewisweekly

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 12, 2013
104
0
Cambridge area
So, iv'e just installed and am now dual-booting ubuntu and mac os x snow leopard. The problem that i'm having is that I sometimes want to change between the two. Normally on an apple keyboard you would just hold the 'option' (alt) key and it shows all bootable drives. But on my bluetooth keyboard I cant get this to work. Its a complete pain having to plug in my apple keyboard every time I wish to switch between the two. I was wondering if anyone knows of a way of which you can change the windows key inputs or even a piece of software that allows me to boot into the other, from inside one of them. (If that makes sense). Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Regards, Lewis W
 
Last edited:
Are you using an Apple-brand bluetooth keyboard?
Or, is it a bluetooth Windows keyboard (with a windows logo key next to the alt key)?
If a Windows bluetooth, the built-in bluetooth card should pick it up at boot. Have you tried the Windows logo key, instead of the alt key?

If you are NOT using the built-in bluetooth card, but are using a USB bluetooth dongle, then you might not get that to work (because the USB drivers don't pick up the dongle that early in the boot process)

Best to use an Apple-brand bluetooth keyboard, or always use a wired keyboard.
 
DeltaMac said:
Are you using an Apple-brand bluetooth keyboard?
Or, is it a bluetooth Windows keyboard (with a windows logo key next to the alt key)?
If a Windows bluetooth, the built-in bluetooth card should pick it up at boot. Have you tried the Windows logo key, instead of the alt key?

If you are NOT using the built-in bluetooth card, but are using a USB bluetooth dongle, then you might not get that to work (because the USB drivers don't pick up the dongle that early in the boot process)

Best to use an Apple-brand bluetooth keyboard, or always use a wired keyboard.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the fast response - I am using a windows bluetooth keyboard which requires a dongle... I guess that would be the reason to it not working. I have also tried the windows key as suggested with no luck. Do you know of any way to change these inputs, or any software that will allow me to boot into linux from mac os x?
 
Can you connect with the built-in bluetooth on your iMac?
Be sure to remove that dongle.

Go to your System Preferences, then Bluetooth pane.
Click the (+) on the lower left, to start up the Bluetooth setup assistant.
Follow the directions to try pairing with your keyboard.

If that doesn't work - exactly which keyboard do you have?
Is it actually bluetooth, or just "wireless", which would be RF, (and not bluetooth at all)?
 
DeltaMac said:
Can you connect with the built-in bluetooth on your iMac?
Be sure to remove that dongle.

Go to your System Preferences, then Bluetooth pane.
Click the (+) on the lower left, to start up the Bluetooth setup assistant.
Follow the directions to try pairing with your keyboard.

If that doesn't work - exactly which keyboard do you have?
Is it actually bluetooth, or just "wireless", which would be RF, (and not bluetooth at all)?
Click to expand...

unfortunately not, doesn't seem to pick it up. Must simply be a wireless one then.

----------
hwojtek said:
Try DoubleCommand.
Click to expand...

I cant seem to get this software to work, it installs but I cant find the program? I've also tried keyremap4macbook with no avail.
 
The iMac standard keyboard for the last several years has been the bluetooth keyboard - but not everyone likes that keyboard - it doesn't have a keypad, for example.
I also would not be sure that ubuntu will pick up that bluetooth keyboard (I don't know), but you can fix that issues by using a wired USB keyboard - and can be an inexpensive windows keyboard, if you prefer - no requirement for that to be an Apple-brand. No more "swap your keyboard again" annoyances. (just my opinion)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back