Switching between two Mac OSes

[Mitcherooney]

Greetings

I have partitioned my HD ad I have Mavericks and Sierra installed. I understand that if I want to change the OS in use, I have to shut down the machine and on switching back on, I have to hold down the Option key. But for how long? It seems that nothing happens so I let go. A little while after that a progress bar appears and finally returns me to Sierra (the OS that I was using when I shut down)

Any advice welcome. Thanks Mitch

 

[MacDawg]

How did you do your installations?

 

[Mitcherooney]

Hi I partioned the HD in the normal way and installed Sierra on the new partition. I should point out that the option to choose which OS to use was available on one occasion but now when I hold down the option key immediately on switching on, All I have is a white screen. As I mentioned on letting go I get the progress bar and Sierra launches....?
[doublepost=1518466074][/doublepost]Handsome animal, that dog of yours. Super temperament, bulldogs

 

[MacDawg]

Are you able to go into System Preferences > StartUp Disk and see both options?

 

[Mitcherooney]

Hi again

Yes, as per pic.

Mitch

 

[MacDawg]

According to this, you are booting into Sierra on reboots, as you stated
Can you click on the lock at the bottom, enter your Admin password and select the Macintosh HD icon and try to restart?

 

[Mitcherooney]

Yes, that worked fine - it launched into Mavericks ... what do I need to do to have the option of which OS to use on startup (i.e. if I come back to the machine the next day?)

 

[bcubed9]

I use an app by the company TwoCanoes, called "Boot Runner" for switching between OSs, without holding down the option button works with boot camp as well, with more flex abilities beyond that. https://twocanoes.com/products/mac/boot-runner/

Coupon good until 2/28 https://twocanoes.us5.list-manage.c...b858151d462a03890a&id=fa4b894b31&e=fdbe851962

If you do not currently own Boot Runner, get 50% off until Feb 28th with coupon code 03B1957D (new customers, online purchases only).

 

[Fishrrman]

Hold down the option key LONGER.
If -- after about 45 seconds -- you still don't see the startup manager appear, well... then I'd guess something's wrong.

Hmmm.... one other, and possibly relevant, question:
Are you using a WIRELESS keyboard?
If so, you might need to try a WIRED keyboard instead.

There's nothing wrong with "switch booting" from one version of the OS to another.
However in my experience, this works better if you keep the different OS versions on SEPARATE drives...