Can you CNTRL R w/ wireless keyboard -Solved

[JohnnyComeLatly]

In Terminal, I was doing a very simple dump of a directory ( ls > dirlist.txt ) and then somehow got wrong the mv command ( mv oldname* /User/Documents/NewName.txt ) which instantly did horrible things. I'll man mv later to figure out that part...

However, I have noticed the Mac OS is not happy at all as I hosed my Pictures and other directories. Double-Tap select and drag and other things don't work. So, I am thinking I'll restore from my Time Machine, which requires a CNTRL R during boot. I tried googling and didn't find a solution so I'm hoping someone has gone through this and found a solution. I'm in Afghanistan, so I can't just go hop in the car and go to an Apple Store. I have the newer wireless keyboard (two batteries), a track pad, and a wired mouse. No wired keyboard. I can buy from an Afghan shop a PC Chinese-built keyboard, but I'm hoping I don't have to buy a keyboard I'll never use again.

 

[chrfr]

...I am thinking I'll restore from my Time Machine, which requires a CNTRL R during boot.

It's Command-R, but yes, it should work fine.

 

[mwhities]

It works with my Apple Wireless BT keyboard.

 

[Weaselboy]

I was doing a very simple dump of a directory ( ls > dirlist.txt ) and then somehow got wrong the mv command ( mv oldname* /User/Documents/NewName.txt ) which instantly did horrible things. I'll man mv later to figure out that part...

However, I have noticed the Mac OS is not happy at all as I hosed my Pictures and other directories. Double-Tap select and drag and other things don't work. So, I am thinking I'll restore from my Time Machine, which requires a CNTRL R during boot. I tried googling and didn't find a solution so I'm hoping someone has gone through this and found a solution. I'm in Afghanistan, so I can't just go hop in the car and go to an Apple Store. I have the newer wireless keyboard (two batteries), a track pad, and a wired mouse. No wired keyboard. I can buy from an Afghan shop a PC Chinese-built keyboard, but I'm hoping I don't have to buy a keyboard I'll never use again.

You can use your Apple Wireless KB for startup commands, but you have to wait until just after the chime.

That said, you are not using the correct keys.

If you want to boot to the Mini's Recovery HD, you need to hit command-r (not control-r). If you want to boot to your external Time Machine disk, hold the option key during boot to select the TM disk.

 

[JohnnyComeLatly]

It's Command-R, but yes, it should work fine.

Thanks. Sounds like I was hitting the wrong keys as I tried multiple times, varying my timing after/before the chime.

You can use your Apple Wireless KB for startup commands, but you have to wait until just after the chime.

That said, you are not using the correct keys.

If you want to boot to the Mini's Recovery HD, you need to hit command-r (not control-r). If you want to boot to your external Time Machine disk, hold the option key during boot to select the TM disk.

If I've done major damage to important file directories, as I've now found there are dependencies even on "Pictures", shouldn't a TM restore be the better option? I'm not sure what booting from the recovery partition allows or doesn't allow, versus a full restoral from TM.

 

[Weaselboy]

If I've done major damage to important file directories, as I've now found there are dependencies even on "Pictures", shouldn't a TM restore be the better option? I'm not sure what booting from the recovery partition allows or doesn't allow, versus a full restoral from TM.

Yes, it would. I would option key boot to the TM disk and erase the drive then do a complete restore. As long as the backup is current, that will get you back in business right away.

 

[JohnnyComeLatly]

Yes, it would. I would option key boot to the TM disk and erase the drive then do a complete restore. As long as the backup is current, that will get you back in business right away.

Thanks for your help and I will do the option key boot you suggest. The TM image is relatively current, 12 December, as I was back home on R&R for the holidays from 17 Dec - 30 Dec. This was also a side-lesson in occasionally checking TM is turned on. I sometimes throw big files (2-5 GB) on my desktop, which I don't want backed up, and forget to turn TM back on.

 

[JohnnyComeLatly]

Solved

I could only get Command-R to elicit an alternate boot ( vice normal boot into OS X). I was able to select my TM from either my NAS or USB external drives which answers a question I'd internally wondered ( can you restore from a NAS?).

It's restoring from my TM external USB as I write this.

again, thank you to WeaselBoy and MWhities for quick and accurate information.