OS X Lion: How to perform a Safe Boot if FileVault 2 is enabled

Products Affected

OS X Lion, Product Security

Symptoms

When you attempt to perform a Safe Boot with FileVault 2 enabled, your Mac starts up to a normal login window.

Resolution

To perform a Safe Boot, decrypt your startup (boot) volume by disabling FileVault 2. You can enable FileVault 2 again afterwards.

  1. From the Apple () menu, choose System Preferences.
  2. From the View menu, choose Security & Privacy.
  3. Click FileVault.
  4. Click the lock icon in the lower left-hand corner and enter your admin password.
  5. Click the "Turn off FileVault" button.

After FileVault 2 has finished decrypting your hard drive, you can restart with a Safe Boot. Enable FileVault 2 again after using Safe Boot, if you wish.

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