Troubleshooting Mac Startup Issues

Question 1

Q: What is the first step in troubleshooting Mac startup issues?

Answer 1

A: Identify the common causes of startup problems.

Question 2

Q: What built-in macOS tool can help with startup issues?

Answer 2

A: macOS Recovery.

Question 3

Q: What does a flashing question mark folder indicate?

Answer 3

A: The Mac is having trouble locating the system software.

Question 4

Q: What can you do in macOS Recovery?

Answer 4

A: Restore from Time Machine, reinstall macOS, get help online, repair or erase a hard disk.

Question 5

Q: What should you do if your Mac is unresponsive?

Answer 5

A: Force shut down by pressing and holding the power button for up to 10 seconds.

Question 6

Q: What is the risk of forcing a Mac to shut down?

Answer 6

A: You may lose unsaved changes.

Question 7

Q: How do you start a Mac in macOS Recovery?

Answer 7

A: Press and hold the power button until “Loading startup options” appears, then select Options and click Continue.

Question 8

Q: What should you do if Disk Utility finds no errors but the Mac still won’t start?

Answer 8

A: Attempt to reinstall macOS or restore from a Time Machine backup.

Question 9

Q: What is the purpose of Disk Utility in macOS Recovery?

Answer 9

A: To troubleshoot and repair disk issues.

Question 10

Q: What should you do after running First Aid in Disk Utility?

Answer 10

A: Restart your Mac and verify it starts up successfully.

Question 11

Q: What does Safe Mode prevent from loading?

Answer 11

A: Login items, system extensions not required by macOS, and fonts not installed by macOS.

Question 12

Q: How do you start a Mac in Safe Mode?

Answer 12

A: Press and hold the power button until “Loading startup options” appears, then select the hard drive icon, hold the Shift key, and click Continue in Safe Mode.

Question 13

Q: What should appear on the login screen when in Safe Mode?

Answer 13

A: Safe Boot in red at the top-right of the menu bar.

Question 14

Q: What should you do if the issue continues in Safe Mode?

Answer 14

A: Reinstall macOS and ensure all software is up to date.

Question 15

Q: How do you exit Safe Mode?

Answer 15

A: Restart your Mac normally.

Question 16

Q: What might not work in Safe Mode?

Answer 16

A: Some features and functionalities.

Question 17

Q: What is the purpose of Safe Mode?

Answer 17

A: To isolate and resolve issues with damaged or incompatible startup items or software.

Question 18

Q: What should you do if your Mac restarts several times in Safe Mode?

Answer 18

A: Reinstall macOS.

Question 19

Q: How can you verify if the issue is resolved after leaving Safe Mode?

Answer 19

A: Log in to your account and test for the issue.

Question 20

Q: Why might you want to restore a Mac to factory settings?

Answer 20

A: To trade in, give away, or redeploy the Mac.

Question 21

Q: What is the first step in restoring a Mac to factory settings?

Answer 21

A: Backup your data.

Question 22

Q: What tool can you use to erase all content and settings on a Mac?

Answer 22

A: macOS Recovery.

Question 23

Q: What should you do after erasing all content and settings?

Answer 23

A: Reinstall macOS.

Question 24

Q: What is a common reason for redeploying an organization-owned Mac?

Answer 24

A: To wipe its data and prepare it for a new user.

Question 25

Q: What should you ensure before restoring a Mac to factory settings?

Answer 25

A: That all important data is backed up.

Question 26

Q: What happens to the data on the Mac after restoring to factory settings?

Answer 26

A: All data is erased.

Question 27

Q: What should you do if you plan to trade in your Mac?

Answer 27

A: Restore it to factory settings to ensure all personal data is removed.

Question 28

Q: What is the final step after restoring a Mac to factory settings?

Answer 28

A: Set up the Mac as new or prepare it for the next user.