Why can't I enter single user mode?

[rev.b]

As above.

I tried several times holding cmd+s during start-up, and it just loads Lion as usual. I thought refit was the problem, so I uninstalled it and reblessed Macintosh HD with my startup disk.

Any ideas how to enter single user mode? Thanks.

 

[spidey3]

As above.

I tried several times holding cmd+s during start-up, and it just loads Lion as usual. I thought refit was the problem, so I uninstalled it and reblessed Macintosh HD with my startup disk.

Any ideas how to enter single user mode? Thanks.

Do you have a firmware password configured? I found that this prevented me from getting to either safe mode or single user mode...

Spidey!!!

 

[rev.b]

Do you have a firmware password configured? I found that this prevented me from getting to either safe mode or single user mode...

Spidey!!!

Good question. I guess I had it configured in Snow Leopard.
How to disable it without a Lion startup DVD?

 

[Tutorer]

Maybe you can boot from an older OS X?

This might help.

 

[rev.b]

A little help here disabling firmware password.

I booted Snow Leopard install disk and ran firmware password utility; unticked "Required password to start this computer from another source", applied and reboot; firmware password is still there.

I tried to run the Open firmware password from http://support.apple.com/downloads/Open_Firmware_Password_1_0_2 , but it crashes on Lion.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[Tutorer]

Maybe you want to try changing the RAM configuration and resetting the PRAM as described here.

 

[rev.b]

Thanks, but I just solved it, maybe with the obvious solution.

I booted from the recovery partition, ran the Firmware password utility, and it worked.

Apparently, all previous versions don't work with Lion, even booting from the DVD...

 

[ankh]

Same original problem -- can't enter single-user mode with command-S.
Mid-2011 Mac Mini, came with Lion installed.
Kinesis Ergo keyboard, which may be the problem, but it acts as a standard USB keyboard.

I do _not_ have a firmware password configured.

Any ideas how to get into single-user mode?

(Why? I noticed that although I have 8GB of RAM installed in a 2011 Mini, sometimes the crash reports I get show only 4gb installed, so I want to run memtest in single-user mode for a while)

 

[pkiula]

Did you ever get a response?

I have File Vault enabled. I start with CMD S pressed. It brings me to password screen. I enter the password, then ENTER, and then immediately CMD S again.

Still the computer boots up fully. Not in Single User mode.

Just how difficult can Mac make this stupid little step?

Welcome any ideas. Thanks!