Cheat codes

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Power & Game buttons for B2 and older XOs. B3 and newer have "O" at the top and "✓" (check) at the right.

A number of special actions are available by holding down game key combinations when the XO is powered on:

After firmware q2c28

The 'X' game pad key is no longer used during upgrading.

The Open Firmware ok prompt is available by default in non-secure boot. You will have to press the Esc key during the countdown.

'X' game pad key: toggles secure and non-secure boot
'✓' (check) game pad key: forces non-pretty boot
'O' game pad key: boot from alternate image
Rotate button: display UL safety message
'◻' (square) game pad keys: wipe out user directory and do a factory-fresh install. (appropriate for upgrading machines straight from the factory)

Rotate button: play "startup sound" at boot (after q2c27, this key will turn off sound and graphic boot up screen)
'X' game pad key: interrupt boot, provide Open Firmware ok prompt. You may have to press the Esc key during the countdown (q2c25).
'O' game pad key: boot from backup OS image, for system recovery. (not yet in a stable build)
Left directional pad: try out "pretty boot" (be patient, early versions show a static boot screen for a long time) (after q2c27, this key will turn off the "pretty boot")
Right directional pad: try it and see!

Further, the Autoreinstallation image uses a couple more special game key combinations:

'X' and '✓' (check) game pad keys: skip upgrade, just write activation lease to USB key and boot. (if your XO doesn't have a check key, use the 'O' key)
'X' and '◻' (square) game pad keys: wipe out user directory and do a factory-fresh install. (appropriate for upgrading machines straight from the factory)