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Installation and Recovery Flashcards

6 cards from real ACSP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 Installation and Recovery flashcards as text

  1. What is the purpose of NVRAM/PRAM on Intel Macs and how do you reset it?

    Answer: NVRAM stores small amounts of data the Mac needs quickly at startup (time zone, startup disk, display resolution, speaker volume); reset by holding Cmd+Option+P+R at startup

    NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM) on Intel Macs stores settings needed quickly at startup including the selected startup disk, screen resolution, speaker volume, and kernel panic information. Hold Cmd+Option+P+R at startup for at least 20 seconds (or until the startup sound plays twice on older Macs) to reset it.

  2. What is the System Management Controller (SMC) and what issues does resetting it address on Intel Macs?

    Answer: SMC manages hardware functions like power, cooling, battery, and status lights; reset when experiencing issues with fans, sleep/wake, battery charging, or MagSafe indicator

    The SMC (System Management Controller) manages power, thermal management, battery, sleep/wake, status LEDs, and hardware sensors on Intel Macs. Reset the SMC when experiencing fan running continuously, failure to sleep/wake, battery not charging, or wrong MagSafe indicator color.

  3. What happens when a Mac enters 'Recovery Mode' versus 'DFU Mode'?

    Answer: Recovery Mode boots a limited macOS environment for repair tools; DFU Mode bypasses all firmware for use with Apple Configurator 2 when Recovery itself is unusable

    Recovery Mode boots recoveryOS (a functional minimal macOS environment) for repairs. DFU (Device Firmware Update) Mode is a lower-level state that completely bypasses all software, allowing Apple Configurator 2 to push new firmware to a Mac whose boot system is completely unresponsive.

  4. When using Migration Assistant, what is the recommended connection method for migrating a large amount of data between two Macs?

    Answer: Direct Thunderbolt cable connection between the two Macs for maximum transfer speed

    A direct Thunderbolt cable between the two Macs provides the highest data transfer speed (up to 40Gbps on Thunderbolt 3/4) and the most reliable connection for large data migrations, far exceeding Wi-Fi speeds.

  5. What is the purpose of the macOS 'Reinstall macOS' option in Recovery, and does it erase user data?

    Answer: It reinstalls macOS system files while preserving all user accounts, applications, and data

    'Reinstall macOS' in Recovery replaces only the macOS system files (the System volume) without erasing user data on the Data volume. User accounts, applications, and files are preserved, making it safe to run when macOS itself is broken.

  6. What is 'Activation Lock' on Apple silicon Macs, and how does it affect repair and resale?

    Answer: Activation Lock ties the Mac to an Apple ID via the Secure Enclave; the Mac cannot be set up until unlocked by the original owner or via Apple Business Manager

    Activation Lock on Macs (via Find My) ties the Mac's Secure Enclave to the owner's Apple ID. If Find My is enabled and the Mac is erased, setup requires the original owner's Apple ID credentials — preventing use of a stolen Mac after erasure.