ACSP Peripherals and Printing 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A user connects an external GPU (eGPU) to their Intel Mac via Thunderbolt 3. After upgrading to macOS Sonoma, the eGPU is no longer recognized. Why?
- Thunderbolt 3 was deprecated in macOS Sonoma
- Apple removed eGPU support starting in macOS Sonoma (Correct answer)
- The eGPU requires a USB-C to Thunderbolt adapter in Sonoma
- The user must enable eGPU in Security Policy
Correct answer: Apple removed eGPU support starting in macOS Sonoma
Apple dropped eGPU support in macOS Sonoma; eGPUs were only supported through macOS Ventura on Intel Macs.
Question 2: A networked printer shows as 'offline' in macOS even though it is powered on and reachable via ping. What is the most efficient fix?
- Delete and re-add the printer in System Settings
- Reinstall the printer's PPD file manually
- Restart the CUPS service with `sudo launchctl stop org.cups.cupsd`
- Reset the Mac's printing system and re-add the printer (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Reset the Mac's printing system and re-add the printer
Resetting the printing system clears all printers, queues, and settings, then re-adding the printer rebuilds a clean configuration that resolves persistent offline states.
Question 3: Which connector type do Apple's MagSafe 3 cables use on the Mac end and the power adapter end respectively?
- MagSafe 3 on both ends
- USB-C on the Mac end, MagSafe 3 on the adapter end
- MagSafe 3 on the Mac end, USB-C on the adapter end (Correct answer)
- Thunderbolt 4 on the Mac end, MagSafe 3 on the adapter end
Correct answer: MagSafe 3 on the Mac end, USB-C on the adapter end
MagSafe 3 cables have a magnetic MagSafe 3 connector that attaches to the Mac and a USB-C connector that plugs into the power adapter.
Question 4: A user reports that their Bluetooth keyboard frequently disconnects when using it more than 3 meters from their MacBook. What is the most likely cause?
- The keyboard needs a firmware update
- Interference or distance is exceeding practical Bluetooth range (Correct answer)
- The Mac's Bluetooth module needs replacement
- Bluetooth is being deprioritized by Wi-Fi on the same 2.4 GHz channel
Correct answer: Interference or distance is exceeding practical Bluetooth range
Bluetooth's practical range is typically around 10 meters in ideal conditions, but walls, interference, and obstacles can significantly reduce effective range.
Question 5: What does the 'Secure Empty Trash' feature for external drives ensure before disconnecting them from a Mac?
- Nothing — macOS uses Eject instead of Secure Empty Trash for drives
- Files in Trash from that volume are overwritten before the drive is unmounted (Correct answer)
- The drive's encryption key is wiped before ejection
- All cached data is flushed and the partition table is rewritten
Correct answer: Files in Trash from that volume are overwritten before the drive is unmounted
When files from an external drive are in the Trash, Secure Empty Trash overwrites them on that volume before permanently deleting them.
Question 6: A scanner connected via USB is not appearing in Image Capture on macOS. After confirming the cable and port are functional, what should you check next?
- Whether Image Capture is allowed in Screen Time
- If a third-party scanner app has claimed exclusive access to the device
- Whether the scanner requires a macOS-compatible TWAIN driver to be installed (Correct answer)
- If SIP is preventing Image Capture from accessing USB devices
Correct answer: Whether the scanner requires a macOS-compatible TWAIN driver to be installed
Some older scanners require a vendor-supplied TWAIN or ICA driver installed on macOS before Image Capture can detect and communicate with them.
Question 7: A user's AirPods Pro connect to their iPhone immediately but take 30+ seconds to connect to their Mac sitting next to it. What setting would most directly improve Mac connection speed?
- Enable Handoff on the Mac in System Settings > General (Correct answer)
- Set the AirPods as the default audio output device in Audio MIDI Setup
- Turn off automatic ear detection in the AirPods settings on iPhone
- Enable 'Connect to This Mac' in the Bluetooth details for the AirPods on the Mac
Correct answer: Enable Handoff on the Mac in System Settings > General
Handoff allows Apple devices to coordinate AirPods switching; enabling it on the Mac helps the Mac receive faster audio device handoff signals from the iPhone.
ACSP Peripherals and Printing 5
A user connects an external GPU (eGPU) to their Intel Mac via Thunderbolt 3.
After upgrading to macOS Sonoma, the eGPU is no longer recognized.
Why?