HELP! Boots straight into XP - where has Mac OS gone?

[Tryo]

I got my iMac 24 inch this morning, and after a while admiring Mac Os, I decided to install XP via Boot Camp since there I programs I need in Windows. I partitioned the drive, and put in the XP disk and clicked Start Installation. And then everything went grey and hung.

I decided to leave it for 5 minutes in case something was happening behind blank screen but nothing changed so I restarted the computer. Since I had the XP disk in, it went straight into XP setup, and asked me where I would like to install windows - perhaps on the newly partioned drive - so I did.

However, now everytime I start the computer it goes straight into windows - where did my Mac go? I figure that Boot Camp crashed, and that perhaps I shouldn't have installed Windows when I did, but the fact that the drive had been partitioned by boot camp led me to believe this was how I was meant to do it.

How do I fix this. I must confess I'm not overly computer litterate and haven't the faintest clue where to start! HELP!

 

[deputy_doofy]

I got my iMac 24 inch this morning, and after a while admiring Mac Os, I decided to install XP via Boot Camp since there I programs I need in Windows. I partitioned the drive, and put in the XP disk and clicked Start Installation. And then everything went grey and hung.

I decided to leave it for 5 minutes in case something was happening behind blank screen but nothing changed so I restarted the computer. Since I had the XP disk in, it went straight into XP setup, and asked me where I would like to install windows - perhaps on the newly partioned drive - so I did.

However, now everytime I start the computer it goes straight into windows - where did my Mac go? I figure that Boot Camp crashed, and that perhaps I shouldn't have installed Windows when I did, but the fact that the drive had been partitioned by boot camp led me to believe this was how I was meant to do it.

How do I fix this. I must confess I'm not overly computer litterate and haven't the faintest clue where to start! HELP!

Even though you partitioned the drive, did you choose the correct partition to install Windows onto? To be sure, check the size of your Windows C drive. if it's the size you thought was for OS X, that means you accidentally installed Windows over OS X and left the other partition empty.

 

[crees!]

How do I fix this. I must confess I'm not overly computer litterate and haven't the faintest clue where to start! HELP!

Reboot and hold down the option key?

 

[deputy_doofy]

Reboot and hold down the option key?

That should work, though my experience has shown me that the Mac always boots into Mac OS unless option is held down. Even if I restart Windows, the machine restarts OS X.

 

[Tryo]

Even though you partitioned the drive, did you choose the correct partition to install Windows onto? To be sure, check the size of your Windows C drive. if it's the size you thought was for OS X, that means you accidentally installed Windows over OS X and left the other partition empty.

Yes, I chose the correct partition. I'm going to try the option trick now (is that what I was supposed to do all along?)

By the way is the option key the apple key?

 

[deputy_doofy]

Yes, I chose the correct partition. I'm going to try the option trick now (is that what I was supposed to do all along?)

By the way is the option key the apple key?

The option key is the key that says option on it. It also says alt. It is next to the command (Apple) key.

 

[Tryo]

The option key is the key that says option on it. It also says alt. It is next to the command (Apple) key.

Mine just says alt. Thanks very much for your patience

 

[apfhex]

(is that what I was supposed to do all along?)

By the way is the option key the apple key?

RTFM (politely meant)

The option key is the option key.... it's sometimes the alt key. The "Apple" key is the Command key.

 

[swiftaw]

By the way is the option key the apple key?

No, The option key is to the left of the Apple Key, it says Alt and Option on it.

 

[Tryo]

well thanks for the help - I'm now typing this in the beautiful Mac Os!

...and my option key does not say option on it!

 

[deputy_doofy]

Mine just says alt. Thanks very much for your patience

Glad to help. I'm not a real expert on partitioning the hard drive for multiple OS's, but one of the first things that I notcied when doing so was how easy it was to make a fatal mistake (meaning, installing Windows over Mac).

 

[madmaxmedia]

If it's still booting into Windows by default-

IIRC, in System Preferences you can choose the startup disk, so that it either boots into OSX or Windows by default.

 

[Osarkon]

RTFM (politely meant)

The option key is the option key.... it's sometimes the alt key. The "Apple" key is the Command key.

RTFM??

Read the F***ing Manual ? All these shorthands are getting beyond me..