Ok

The 'ok' prompt is the Open Firmware menu for the laptop. At this point the laptop firmware is ready to accept commands. The operating system is not running.

There are several methods to get to the 'ok' prompt.

The 'ok' prompt is not available if the laptop is secured. If you have tried all these methods, then perhaps your laptop is secured and you need a "developer key". See how to unlock.

Novice

• Shutdown the laptop,
• Hold down the '✓' (check) game pad key and turn on the laptop, a diagram of the game keys should appear with a message Release the game keys to continue,
• Release the '✓' (check) game pad key, and immediately press Escape key a few times a second, and the 'ok' prompt should appear,
• press enter to get a fresh 'ok' prompt.

OLPC D1, 1 GiB memory installed, 4 GB internal storage, S/N SHC937010AA
OpenFirmware  CL1   Q3A39  Q3A   EC Firmware Ver:1.9.28

Press the Esc key to interrupt automatic startup
Type 'help' for more information.

ok
ok

Regular

• Shutdown the laptop,
• Turn on the laptop, and press Escape key once during the startup sound, and the 'ok' prompt should appear.

OLPC D1, 1 GiB memory installed, 4 GB internal storage, S/N SHC937010AA
OpenFirmware  CL1   Q3A39  Q3A   EC Firmware Ver:1.9.28

Type 'help' for more information.

ok

Expert

• Shutdown the laptop,
• Hold down the Escape key while turning on the laptop, and the 'ok' prompt should appear.

OLPC D1, 1 GiB memory installed, 4 GB internal storage, S/N SHC937010AA
OpenFirmware  CL1   Q3A39  Q3A   EC Firmware Ver:1.9.28

Type 'help' for more information.

ok

This method sometimes doesn't work for some laptops.

How do I know it worked?

You should see text on the screen. There should be the word ok with a black rectangle after it.

ok

Press enter, and a new word ok will appear and the black rectangle should move down.

Technical Data

The firmware only checks for the Escape key for a short time during the Startup sound. It is possible for the volume to have been turned down so that you cannot hear the sound, see Startup sound#How to enable to fix.

This 'ok' prompt is called a command line interface (CLI), and the black rectangle is a cursor.

Normally it is hidden, which is why you have to do special things to get to it.

Learn More

You might only have needed the 'ok' prompt for a specific task. But there's way more. To learn how to use the 'ok' prompt fully, see Forth Lessons.