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How can I boot from an external drive on my pre-OS8.6 Mac?

Booting from an External Drive (Pre-OS8.6)

If you're running a system older than OS8.6, you can force your machine to boot from an external drive (ZIP or CD) by holding down Command-Option-Shift-Delete while booting, until you get your smiley Mac. It's easiest to get the first three with your left hand and Delete with your right, although I did once successfully restart using a pencil held in my teeth, when my right arm was in a cast ...
Of course, if you have a newer keyboard with the first three keys on BOTH sides of your spacebar, you can do it with just your right hand. But I bet it gives you a cramp!

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