- X during startup – Force Mac OS X startup
- option – (eventually) brings up a screen with startup volume choices
- Option-Command-Shift-Delete – Bypass primary startup volume and seek a different startup volume (such as a CD or external disk)
- C – Start up from a CD that has a system folder
- N – Attempt to start up from a compatible network server (NetBoot)
- T – Start up in FireWire Target Disk mode (very handy for plugging your Mac into another as an external hard drive)
- Shift – start up in Safe Boot mode and temporarily disable login items and non-essential kernel extension files (Mac OS X 10.2 and later)
- Command-V – Start up in Verbose mode.
- Command-S – Start up in Single-User mode
- cmd-opt-p-r – Zap PRAM. Hold down until second chime.
- cmd-opt-n-v – Clear NV RAM. Similar to reset-all in Open Firmware.
- cmd-opt-o-f – Boot into open firmware
- hold mouse click – force eject a CD/DVD
