hi dan, Hi Richard, It is not that startup is not waiting for that volume, rather it is that we chose we not to mount it until you log in. The volume is on a disk marked external, which on a Client install, does not get mounted until someone logs in. You should be seeing it mount at boot on a Server install just fine, by contrast. ah. i understand the choice as a default for Client, but would prefer to see an 'option' to change it ... There are two ways to have it mount at boot. The first one, also the ideal one, is unfortunately not working in 10.3.x due to an oversight on our part. I mention it only for future reference. It would be to list the volume in question by UUID in /etc/fstab along with the "auto" option. This would override any default. re: "future reference" ... i assume you mean that fstab in not currently being used/checked, not that it currently/default is simply empty. yes? My alternative would be to create the preference file in /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.DiskArbitration.diskarbitrationd.plist with this: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE plist SYSTEM "file://localhost/System/Library/DTDs/PropertyList.dtd"> <plist version="0.9"> <dict> <key>DAMountDeferExternal</key> <false/> </dict> </plist> this looks simple enuf, i'll give it a try! question: where would I find the specification of this key value documented? its certainly eluded me to date ... thanks! richard _______________________________________________ darwin-kernel mailing list | darwin-kernel@lists.apple.com Help/Unsubscribe/Archives: http://www.lists.apple.com/mailman/listinfo/darwin-kernel Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored.